{{Short description|American politician (born 1963)}} {{about||the basketball player|Bobby McDermott|the Scottish footballer|Bob McDermid}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bob McDermott | image = Bob McDermott.jpg | office = Member of the<br>Hawaii House of Representatives | term_start = November 6, 2012 | term_end = November 8, 2022 | predecessor = Redistricted | successor = Rose Martinez | constituency = 40th district | term_start1 = November 5, 1996 | term_end1 = November 5, 2002 | predecessor1 = Robert Bunda | successor1 = Lynn Finnegan | constituency1 = 32nd district | birth_name = Robert Charles McDermott | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|8|5}} | birth_place = Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = Chaminade University (BA, MBA) }} '''Robert Charles McDermott''' (born August 5, 1963)<ref name="PVS">{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/14848 |title= Bob McDermott's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> is an American politician and Republican former member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who served from 1996 to 2002 and 2012 to 2022.
McDermott initially served three terms in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1996 until 2002 but left to run unsuccessfully for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He returned to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2012 before leaving state office in 2022 to run as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii, losing to incumbent Democratic Senator Brian Schatz in the 2022 election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Hanna Kang, Bartie |title=Results: Democratic incumbent Sen. Brian Schatz defeats Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott in Hawaii's US Senate election |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/results-brian-schatz-bob-mcdermott-hawaii-election-senate-race-candidates-2022 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> McDermott was again the Republican nominee for the 2024 Senate election, losing to incumbent Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono.
== Education == McDermott is a 1981 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. He earned his BA in economics and his MBA from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
== Political views == McDermott made headlines in 2013 for his vocal opposition to same-sex marriage. It ultimately became law in Hawaii, and Bob McDermott turned his focus on Pono Choices, a sex education program in Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 8, 2016|title=The Changing Face Of Sex Education In Hawaii's Public Schools|url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/04/the-changing-face-of-sex-education-in-hawaiis-public-schools/|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=Honolulu Civil Beat|language=en}}</ref> On January 8, 2014, McDermott held a press conference in opposition to Pono Choices in which he gave a presentation on oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex, in contrast with what he said the program teaches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.civilbeat.org/2014/01/20863-rep-bob-mcdermotts-gay-sex-problem/|title=Rep. Bob McDermott's Gay Sex Problem|last=Blair|first=Chad|date=January 9, 2014|work=Honolulu Civil Beat|access-date=November 28, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
In July 2022, McDermott said he was the first elected official to call for closure of the U.S. military's Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, which he identified as the biggest issue facing Hawaii. He has criticized Hawaii's congressional delegation for slowness to take action, saying he would have done so safely within a year and a half.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/07/candidate-qa-u-s-senate-bob-mcdermott/ |title=Candidate Q&A: U.S. Senate – Bob McDermott |date=July 4, 2022 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat |access-date=August 20, 2022 }}</ref>
== 2018 gubernatorial run == McDermott announced his intent to run for Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 election on May 12, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35419621/mcdermott-touts-leadership-officialy-enters-2018-race-for-governor|title=McDermott touts leadership, {{sic|offi|cial|y|nolink=y}} enters 2018 race for governor|work=Hawaii News Now|last=Nagaoka|first=Ashley|date=May 12, 2017|access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref> He withdrew his candidacy in August 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/08/29/breaking-news/rep-mcdermott-withdraws-from-governors-race/|title=Rep. McDermott withdraws from governor's race|date=August 29, 2017|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|access-date=November 28, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Controversies == On March 14, 2016, during a debate over the state budget, McDermott yelled profanities at fellow Republicans for not volunteering time to him as he was at the limit of his allotted time. McDermott told his colleagues to "start acting like (expletive) Republicans" and "do your (expletive) job."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/03/15/hawaii-news/lawmaker-lobs-profanities-at-fellow-republicans/|title=Lawmaker lobs profanities at fellow Republicans|last=Dayton|first=Kevin|date=March 15, 2016|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|access-date=November 28, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
McDermott made headlines again in March 2017 after voting Beth Fukumoto out of her position as House Minority Leader, saying that her criticisms of Donald Trump and attendance at the Women's March were only to gain publicity for herself''.''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theoutline.com/post/1270/the-republican-party-is-dying-in-hawaii-beth-fukumoto?zd=1&zi=o66vkpnt|title=The Republican Party is dying in Hawaii|work=The Outline|access-date=November 28, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
== Elections == {{See also|2022 United States Senate election in Hawaii|2024 United States Senate election in Hawaii}} *1996 – When Democratic Representative Robert Bunda ran for Hawaii Senate and left the House District 32 seat open, McDermott was unopposed for the September 21, 1996, Republican Primary, winning with 304 votes,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1996/primary/96swpri.htm |title= Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 21, 1996 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 5 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> and won the November 5, 1996, general election with 2,483 votes (53.5%) against Democratic nominee Leonard Pepper.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1996/general/96swgen.htm |title= General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 5, 1996 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 3 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> *1998 – McDermott was unopposed for the September 19, 1998, Republican Primary, winning with 304 votes,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1998/primary/98swpri.htm |title= Open Primary 98 – State of Hawaii – Hawaii Statewide September 19, 1998 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 4 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> and won the November 3, 1998, general election with 2,796 votes (54.9%) against Democratic nominee Wilfred Tangonan.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1998/general/98swgen.htm |title= General – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 3, 1998 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 2 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> *2000 – McDermott was unopposed for the September 23, 2000, Republican Primary, winning with 785 votes,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2000/primary/00swpri3.htm |title= Open Primary 2000 – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 23, 2000 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 4 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> and won the November 7, 2000, general election with 2,686 votes (56.4%) against Democratic nominee Eddie Aguinaldo.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2000/general/00swgen4.htm |title= General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 7, 2000 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 2 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> *2002 – Expecting to challenge incumbent Democratic United States Representative Patsy Mink for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district seat, McDermott won the September 21, 2002, Republican Primary with 20,180 votes (49.5%);<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/primary/02swpri5.pdf |title= Open Primary Election 2002 – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 21, 2002 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 4 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> Mink had been hospitalized after announcing her re-election candidacy, and died the week after the primary, but too late to be replaced on the general election ballot; she was elected posthumously in the four-way November 5, 2002 General election. McDermott did not run in the November 30, 2002, Special election to succeed her in the interim, as an election to fill the remainder of her term was scheduled for January 4, 2003. *2003 – McDermott ran in the 91-candidate Special election on January 4 to succeed Congresswoman Mink, but lost to Ed Case,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2003/special/state.pdf |title= Special Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide January 4, 2003 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> who had won the interim special election, and held the seat until 2007. *2012 – With Democratic Representative Sharon Har redistricted to District 42, McDermott was unopposed in District 40's August 11, 2012, Republican Primary, winning with 754 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2012/primary/elections/results/2012/primary/files/histatewide.pdf |title= Primary Election 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide August 11, 2012 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 4 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> He won the November 6, 2012, general election with 3,249 votes (48.8%) against Democratic nominee Chris Manabat,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2012/general/elections/results/2012/general/files/histatewide.pdf |title= Hawaii General 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 6, 2012 |publisher= Hawaii Office of Elections |location= Honolulu, Hawaii |page= 2 |access-date= November 22, 2013}}</ref> who had won the six-way Democratic Primary in a field which included former Representative Romy Mindo. *2014 – McDermott beat Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 60.0% to 36.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2014/general/histatewide.pdf#page=2 |title=General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 4, 2014 |website=Hawaii Office of Elections |access-date=August 19, 2022 |page=2 }}</ref> *2016 – McDermott won against Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 54.6% to 38.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2016/general/histatewide.pdf#page=2 |title=General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 2016 |website=Hawaii Office of Elections |access-date=August 19, 2022 |page=2 }}</ref> *2018 – McDermott defeated Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 53.4% to 42.3%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2018/general/histatewide.pdf |title=General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 6, 2018 |publisher=Hawaii Office of Elections |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=August 19, 2020}}</ref> *2020 – McDermott beat Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 55.7% to 40.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2020/general/histatewide.pdf#page=2 |title=General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 3, 2020 |website=Hawaii Office of Elections |access-date=August 19, 2022 |page=2 }}</ref> *2022 – McDermott won the 5-way Republican primary for U.S. Senator from Hawaii with 25,557 votes (31.9%). He faced incumbent Senator Brian Schatz in the November general election and lost the election by a 45% margin. Democratic candidate Rose Martinez won McDermott's former seat, 49.5% to 46.4%, against Republican Janie Gueso.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elections.hawaii.gov/wp-content/results/histatewide.pdf |title=Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide August 13, 2022 |website=Hawaii Office of Elections |access-date=August 19, 2022 }}</ref> *2024 – McDermott won the 6-way Republican primary for U.S. Senator from Hawaii with 27,961 votes (44.9%). He lost to incumbent senator Mazie Hirono in the November general election.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primary Election August 10, 2024 Statewide Summary |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2024/Primary/histatewide.pdf|website=State of Hawaii – Office of Elections |access-date=October 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2024 |title=GENERAL ELECTION 2024 - Statewide Summary - November 5, 2024 |url=https://elections.hawaii.gov/wp-content/results/histatewide.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226222838/https://elections.hawaii.gov/wp-content/results/histatewide.pdf |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 29, 2024 |website=State of Hawaii Office of Elections}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140930092843/http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=mcdermott&year=2013 Official page] at the Hawaii State Legislature *[http://www.votemcdermott.com/ Campaign site] * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=14848 | fec= | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template: * [http://ballotpedia.org/Bob_McDermott Biography] at Ballotpedia * [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=136987 Financial information (state office)] at the National Institute for Money in State Politics * -->
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=John Carroll}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii}}<br>(Class 3)|years=2022}} {{s-inc|rows=2|recent}} |- {{s-bef|before=Ron Curtis}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii}}<br>(Class 1)|years=2024}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDermott, Bob}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature Category:21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature Category:Candidates in the 2002 United States elections Category:Candidates in the 2003 United States elections Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections Category:Chaminade University of Honolulu alumni Category:People from Lansdale, Pennsylvania Category:Politicians from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Category:Republican Party members of the Hawaii House of Representatives Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States Senate elections