HONOLULU — The State Central Committee (SCC) of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i on Saturday voted to begin the process to elect new party leadership.

The SCC is the statewide governing body of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i, comprised of 83 members representing each of the state’s counties, senate districts and party caucuses.

The SCC voted to remove Party Chairperson Dennis Jung from that position with 62 members out of 83 voting for removal. In the same meeting, Kīhei resident Donna Domingo was elected vice-chair and Kāne’ohe resident Will Caron was elected assistant secretary.

Upon the removal of the party chair, Domingo immediately assumed the role as acting chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i.

The move comes after several SCC meetings to discuss the state of the party and how to prepare for upcoming elections.

“Today’s vote puts the party on a path of progress toward the 2024 election cycle,” said Domingo. “I’d like to encourage all Democrats to unite as we move the party forward.”

Former Chair Jung was elected to the position at the State Democratic Party Convention in May 2022. Challenges in fundraising and filling important party officer vacancies caused a lack of confidence in the party’s direction.

The acting chair is tasked with organizing an election to elect an interim chair, who will serve through the 2024 Party Convention to be held on May 18-19, 2024.