Lauren Cheape Matsumoto
Hawaii State Representative, District 38 since 2012. Ran in 8 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 8. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Hawaii State Representative, District 38Born 1987Beauty pageant contestant
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 28
- 511 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.3%
- Chamber median 1.5%
- With party
- 87%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +43.9
- Won 2024
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Agriculture and Food Systems
- Energy and Environmental Protection
- Legislative Management
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Matsumoto sits in the Hawaii House of Representatives
Matsumoto is closer to the center than 60% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Garner Shimizu, Joe Gedeon, Elle Cochran
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Matsumoto’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans87%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills84%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Hawaii House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Matsumoto’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Matsumoto | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | HB 1823: RELATING TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT. | No | No | Yes | Passed 33–18 |
| May 8, 2026 | SB 2169: RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 40–11 |
| May 6, 2026 | SB 2101: RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 45–6 |
| May 6, 2026 | HB 1870: RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. | No | No | Yes | Passed 44–7 |
| May 6, 2026 | SB 2568: RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS. | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 45–6 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Matsumoto was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 38 | Won | — | D+18.1 | — |
| 2024 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 38 | Won | R+43.9 | D+18.1 | +62.0 |
| 2022 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 38 | Won | R+34.0 | D+26.6 | +60.6 |
| 2020 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 | Won | R+32.4 | — | — |
| 2018 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 | Won | R+44.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 | Won | R+1.7 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $40K
- Spent
- $45.7K
- Cash
- $52.1K
Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission filings through Aug 8, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:46 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Matsumoto, L auren State | Active |
Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission filings through Aug 8, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:46 PM ET
Seats Matsumoto has held
- Hawaii House of Representatives, District 38 · since 2022
- Hawaii House of Representatives, District 45 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Matsumoto has run against
- Alexander Kekuanao'a Ozawa (D) · 2024 election, won
- Marilyn B. Lee (D) · 2022 election, won
- Michael Chapman (D) · 2020 election, won
- Michael Y. Magaoay (D) · 2014 election, won
- Jake Bradshaw (D) · 2012 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Matsumoto
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8562d0d7-9915-4559-98bc-ac9c456efd02
- Wikidata Q6500160
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET