The Hawaii Government Employees Association is endorsing Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen in his 2026 re-election campaign.

The association represents 35,000 state and county public employees, including 3,500 in Maui County, in supervisory, clerical, professional, educational and emergency services roles.

“Mayor Bissen has shown a refreshing level of collaboration with our union that makes him stand out from other public-sector employers,” HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said in a news release. “His administration resolves grievances fairly, keeps an open door, and has worked with us to secure much-needed gains in pay and benefits for the working families we represent.”

Bissen said he was honored to receive the association’s endorsement.

“Our public workers are the backbone of this county, and I’m grateful for the partnership we’ve built to support them and their families,” Bissen said in a statement.