John Giuffre
John Giuffre (also known as Raghu) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Hawaii. He lost in the Nonpartisan primary on August 10, 2024.
Giuffre completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
John Giuffre was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. He earned an associate degree from Bhaktivedanta Gurukula in 1984. His career experience includes being an author of economic books, a landlord, and a real estate agent. He has been affiliated with Raghu-nomics.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2024
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Hawaii
Incumbent Mazie K. Hirono defeated Bob McDermott, Shelby Billionaire, and Emma Pohlman in the general election for U.S. Senate Hawaii on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Mazie K. Hirono (D) | 65.5 | 283,454 | |
Bob McDermott (R) | 31.4 | 135,761 | ||
Shelby Billionaire (We the People) | 1.6 | 7,090 | ||
Emma Pohlman (G) | 1.5 | 6,419 |
Total votes: 432,724 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii
Incumbent Mazie K. Hirono defeated Ron Curtis and Clyde McClain Lewman in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii on August 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Mazie K. Hirono | 90.5 | 176,131 | |
Ron Curtis | 7.3 | 14,271 | ||
Clyde McClain Lewman | 2.2 | 4,287 |
Total votes: 194,689 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii on August 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Bob McDermott | 51.9 | 27,961 | |
Adriel Lam | 16.5 | 8,913 | ||
Melba Amaral | 14.2 | 7,627 | ||
Paul Dolan | 7.4 | 4,006 | ||
Arturo Reyes | 6.2 | 3,319 | ||
Emmanuel Tipon | 3.8 | 2,075 |
Total votes: 53,901 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Harry Friel, Jr. (R)
- Keith Drummond Lambert (R)
- Ku Lono Cuadra (R)
- Lester Fung (R)
- Walter Kupau Jr. (R)
- Eddie Pirkowski (R)
- Shaena Dela Cruz Hoohuli (R)
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii
No candidate advanced from the primary.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
John Giuffre | 100.0 | 966 |
Vote totals may be incomplete for this race. | ||||
Total votes: 966 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Aloha Aina Party primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dan Decker (Aloha Aina Party)
Green primary election
Green primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii
Emma Pohlman advanced from the Green primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii on August 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Emma Pohlman | 100.0 | 1,342 |
Total votes: 1,342 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jennifer Booker (G)
Libertarian primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Aaron Toman (L)
We the People primary election
We the People primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii
Shelby Billionaire advanced from the We the People primary for U.S. Senate Hawaii on August 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Shelby Billionaire | 100.0 | 977 |
Total votes: 977 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Giuffre in this election.
2020
See also: Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 8 Republican primary)
Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 8 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Kaiali'i Kahele (D) | 63.0 | 171,517 | |
Joseph Akana (R) | 30.9 | 84,027 | ||
Michelle Rose Tippens (L) | 2.5 | 6,785 | ||
Jonathan Hoomanawanui (Aloha Aina Party) | 2.4 | 6,453 | ||
Ron Burrus (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 2,659 | ||
John Giuffre (American Shopping Party) | 0.2 | 661 |
Total votes: 272,102 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
Kaiali'i Kahele defeated Brian Evans, Brenda Lee, and Noelle Famera in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Kaiali'i Kahele | 76.5 | 100,841 | |
Brian Evans | 9.4 | 12,337 | ||
Brenda Lee | 8.1 | 10,694 | ||
Noelle Famera | 6.1 | 7,992 |
Total votes: 131,864 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David Cornejo (D)
- Ryan Meza (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Joseph Akana | 44.1 | 15,107 | |
Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro | 15.4 | 5,294 | ||
David Hamman | 10.0 | 3,430 | ||
Robert Nagamine | 8.4 | 2,887 | ||
Nicholas Love | 7.6 | 2,616 | ||
Steven Bond | 6.5 | 2,218 | ||
Felipe San Nicolas | 4.3 | 1,465 | ||
Karla Gottschalk | 2.8 | 953 | ||
Raymond Quel | 0.9 | 305 |
Total votes: 34,275 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
Ron Burrus defeated Byron McCorriston in the primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Ron Burrus | 59.2 | 1,308 | |
Byron McCorriston | 40.8 | 901 |
Total votes: 2,209 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Aloha Aina Party primary election
Aloha Aina Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
Jonathan Hoomanawanui advanced from the Aloha Aina Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Jonathan Hoomanawanui | 100.0 | 3,423 |
Total votes: 3,423 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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American Shopping Party primary election
American Shopping Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
John Giuffre advanced from the American Shopping Party primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | John Giuffre | 100.0 | 134 |
Total votes: 134 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2
Michelle Rose Tippens advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Hawaii District 2 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Michelle Rose Tippens | 100.0 | 1,014 |
Total votes: 1,014 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated Hawaii's U.S. Senate race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Brian Schatz (D) defeated John Carroll (R), Michael Kokoski (L), Joy Allison (Constitution Party), and John Giuffre (American Shopping Party) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Schatz defeated Makani Christensen, Tutz Honeychurch, Arturo Reyes, and Miles Shiratori in the Democratic primary, while Carroll defeated Karla Gottschalk, Eddie Pirkowski, and John Roco to win the Republican nomination. The primary elections took place on August 13, 2016.[3][4]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brian Schatz Incumbent | 73.6% | 306,604 | |
Republican | John Carroll | 22.2% | 92,653 | |
Constitution | Joy Allison | 2.2% | 9,103 | |
Libertarian | Michael Kokoski | 1.6% | 6,809 | |
American Shopping | John Giuffre | 0.3% | 1,393 | |
Total Votes | 416,562 | |||
Source: Hawaii Secretary of State |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Schatz Incumbent | 86.2% | 162,905 | ||
Makani Christensen | 6.3% | 11,899 | ||
Miles Shiratori | 4.6% | 8,620 | ||
Arturo Reyes | 2% | 3,820 | ||
Tutz Honeychurch | 1% | 1,815 | ||
Total Votes | 189,059 | |||
Source: Hawaii Secretary of State |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
John Carroll | 74.6% | 26,749 | ||
John Roco | 11% | 3,956 | ||
Karla Gottschalk | 8.5% | 3,045 | ||
Eddie Pirkowski | 5.9% | 2,115 | ||
Total Votes | 35,865 | |||
Source: Hawaii Secretary of State |
2014
Giuffre ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. Senate, to represent Hawaii.[5] Giuffre failed to appear on the official list of candidates.[6]
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Joy Allison | 67.8% | 388 | ||
Art Reyes | 32.2% | 184 | ||
Total Votes | 572 | |||
Source: Hawaii Office of Elections |
2012
Giuffre ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Hawaii's 1st District. Giuffre sought the nomination on the Republican ticket.[7] Giuffre ran against Charles Amsterdam and Charles Djou in the Republican primary. Giuffre was defeated by Charles Djou in the Republican primary on August 11, 2012.[8]
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
---|---|---|
Charles Djou | 95.7% | 25,984 |
Charles Amsterdam | 2.9% | 799 |
John Giuffre | 1.4% | 376 |
Total Votes | 27,159 |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Giuffre completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Giuffre's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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|Third generation Italian American, born in LA, boyhood to youth schooling in India to study the Veda's - after mom became a Buddhist Hindu. Preacher til 25, biz til 30, and so began my writings on social economic policy now called Raghu-nomics.
- Three Main Programs by Raghu-nomics: 1) RADHA Mortgage: Cut Mortgage 50% - Cuts mortgage costs 50% & monthly payments by as much as 70% 2) Leverage Debt Reduction: Cut US Deficits 50% -Cuts US Federal Debt of $35 trillion in half. - 50% of Federal debt is in real estate securities. - RADHA converts real estate into triple AAA assets and so, US treasury can retire $15 trillion back to market 3) Lifestyle Insurance: Half the Costs for Double the Service - 50% of all medical costs is lifestyle related. Cover of our own lifestyle cost = cut insurance premiums 50%. - Lifestyle has retail products for its own revenue source. - Ex: Obesity cost $2 trillion a decade. That's 10 cents once evenly divided between all junk food
- Raghu-nomics offers working models made of user-friendly biz formula's and straight forward numbers that are easy to confirm or contest. Neutral platform to build new discourse, free of conflict politics.
- Raghu-nomics offers new perspectives that find new possibilities and so allow for a new conversation around solutions that suddenly look solvable once resized around new prospects.
Raghu-nomics is 26 books with about 100 + policy proposals. Each offering solutions like those of those mentioned above. The RADHA Mortgage is the most vetted and ready to scale nationally.
Raghu-nomics is done as my service to my Guru-Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, to offer Brahminical counsel to the world in its darkest hour and offer direction to the leaders of the world.
Raghu-noimcs is based upon a couple core principles. the first is ROOPA: Responsible for One's Own Products and Actions. When we talk of good and bad, we are actually talking about long term liabilities or economic returns. We follow those to measure how bad or good something is. We then ask that those causing the liabilities cover it's cost and those of good, share in the long term rewards of their works. Raghu-nomics is an economics application of the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible of India.
I work from a numbers based approached to social political and economic policies. This numbers based response is taken from my training in philosophy and the Vedic paradigm which is to say its a value bases system. I'm therefore allowed to see things quite differently then any of the others in today's power circles and then confirm their numeric equation. I provide the contrast and added variables missing from today's discourse and policy development.
26 books as the culmination of nearly 50 years of work and 1uarter million in out of pocket costs and 1 million in time. Raghu-nomics is next generation social economic policy unrestrained by the straight jacket of today's outdated ideology of Liberal vs Conservative. They have little barring to fix the program as demonstrated by the dramatic impact possible with Raghu-nomics.
My first priority as as senator for Hawaii is to bring back the $8 to $25 billion to build out the states necessary infrastructure and farming.
Raghu-nomics is upon the legacy of Prabhupada's vision and fulfillment to offer a house in which the whole world can live peacefully.
Assignation of India's Prime Minister, Indira Gandi, 1984. I was taking a train from Delhi to Varnasi when word came and that it was first suggested the CIA behind it. I was suddenly a Canadian for the next 3 months. Slaughter of Sikhs throughout the country - worst hit was Varanasi, where I was going and stayed for 2 months. Had the plot been confirmed as an American, I would have been dragged off the train, or off the street and hacked to death. I was 19. Same again for the Hindu Muslim riots when they attacked our temple and cut up Western devotees - our teachers, with machete's.
Preach - 9 years - 16 to 25 which included Congregational program development and director.
Bhagavad Gita As It is - it's the paradigm from which Raghu-nomics is built upon
Iran Man's Dad seems to best represent my role today.
Radhika Das, Hare Krsna, Kensington Hall, London
Extreme financial hardship while I carry this service of Raghu-nomics forward. Minimal resources will allow these programs to be fully developed and launched at long last.
Most would think economic collapse and global stature, global warming and nuclear war with Russia. In my case, we have 'simple solutions' to each of these so find them more as opportunities vs challenges.
Generally favored it, but want more info before I make a finale commitment. I'm tending more to age limits of say 70 or 75.
1) The larger role you can play in developing policy and 2) the better placement to bring larger share of fed dollars back to the state.
3) Better access to resources for developing policy and securing billions in money from the feds for the state.
Most politicians are generally committed to gov't and policy based upon the pay to do it. I have dedicated almost 50 years developing public policy and economic programs.
Maybe. I need more info. I have gone back and forth on it.
How many Buddhist does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None. There is no light bulb. You are the light.
Have not looked into yet.
I have already worked members over a couple decades as I shopped Raghu-nomics to them over hundreds of trips to DC. I was able to interest them as an 'idea' guy. Should do well to close them on policy programs once getting to work as peer.
Better then compromise is program upgrades that make most political fights irrelevant.
As a secondary priority to developing breakthrough policy programs.
Have not yet launched my campaign. Should know in the next 30 days.
Experience, transparency and political agenda
My strengths would best interface with Ag, Financial Services, Foreign Operations, Transportation & Housing
Raghu-nomics focus is to find what services can be better provided by the market place and how to facilitate as the most effective response to reducing gov't corruption and ineptitude.
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2020
Candidate Conversations
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John Giuffre did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Raghu-nomics, "About," accessed July 25, 2025
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 15, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates," accessed June 8, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Hawaii Senate Races Results," August 13, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedcandidatelist
- ↑ Hawaii.gov, "Candidate report," accessed August 10, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Elections, "Primary Candidate Report, "June 4, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ AP Results, "Hawaii U.S. House Primary Election Results" accessed August 12, 2012