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James Kealoha, formally James Kimo Kealoha (April 29, 1908–August 24, 1983), of Hilo, Hawaiʻi was Lieutenant Governor of Hawaiʻi in the administration of Governor of Hawaiʻi William F. Quinn. Kealoha challenged Quinn for the Hawaiʻi Republican Party nomination for governor in 1962. Some analysts have said that the decision by Kealoha to challenge the governor who was not yet willing to retire cost the Republicans the election. Kealoha is the first Chinese American and Native Hawaiian to be elected lieutenant governor in the United States.
[edit] 1960 presidential election
Kealoha gained national attention in 1960 after ordering an audit of ballots cast in the close presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The election nationwide was so close, Hawaiʻi effectively had the power to decide the winner. Kealoha certified the vote total in favor of fellow Republican Nixon resulting in the call of national Democrats for a recount. The recounts were tied up in the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary. Confusion led to crisis as the Democrats submitted their three electoral votes for Kennedy while at the same time Republicans submitted their three electoral votes for Nixon. The result was finally resolved on the floor of the United States Senate during the electoral college certification process.
