The Democratic primary campaign for governor was launched in earnest last week as both Colleen Hanabusa and David Ige held fundraisers. For U.S. Rep. Hanabusa, it was the first of her embryonic gubernatorial campaign; for incumbent Ige, it was the start of a four-fundraiser set planned already for 2017.

Hanabusa filed her gubernatorial organizational report on Sept. 11, listing her husband John Souza as campaign chairman, and is so far running a campaign of preparation as opposed to early flash and dash.

Back in 2013, then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie was already well into fundraiser mode and at this time four years ago, had held 11 fundraisers for his ultimately unsuccessful re-election campaign.

In comparison, challenger Ige was just poking his head out of the political underbrush, and could mark one fundraiser held and one planned.

This year the situations are somewhat reversed. Although Ige has 14 more legislative years than his challenger, Hanabusa, it is the incumbent governor who is still something of a novice and it is Hanabusa, who is the campaign veteran.

Running for governor is Hawaii’s most difficult political quest and problems multiply when you exit Congress for a job back home. Jumping from the nearly guaranteed security of a Hawaii U.S. House seat to almost any other political office is a perilous leap.

Abercrombie was able to go from Congress to the state Capitol’s koa-lined fifth floor; Dan Akaka went to the U.S. Senate from the U.S. House. But others, including John Burns, Ed Case, Tom Gill, Cec Heftel, Patsy Mink and Pat Saiki all left the U.S. House only to be defeated while trying for a promotion.

Of specific warning to Hanabusa are the histories of Burns, Gill and Heftel — all leaving the congressional delegation, only to fail in a run for governor.

Burns, of course, returned in the next cycle to become Hawaii’s most significant governor — but for others, the trip from Washington, D.C., to Washington Place has been a journey to defeat.

The 2018 race, however, is likely to turn not on Hanabusa as a congresswoman, but on Ige’s record in office and how it matches up with public demands.

The 60-year-old Pearl City Democrat is already viewed as a weak leader with little vision. Immediately after taking office, his administration was caught up in the protests over the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea and his seeming inability to clearly state his position and support for the world’s largest proposed telescope.

Since then he has brought more focus to the issue. Last week when the state Land Board voted to approve the project, Ige quickly followed with a tweet saying, “To be very clear, I fully support @TMTHawaii. #TMT.”

During the just-ended special legislative session that came up with another tax increase to bail out Honolulu’s troubled rail project, legislators noted that Ige was not involved except to listen to briefings on the various legislative plans.

The lack of any input for Ige has been a constant complaint from legislative leaders since he became governor.

The lack of leadership has continued as county leaders have been upset to discover that Ige has canceled many new and long-promised road projects, and replaced them with repair and maintenance projects.

And privately the business community has been grumbling that Ige does not communicate with them or even include them in decisions.

For Hanabusa to win next year, it will be up to her not to campaign as an Ige replacement, but as a governor who can incorporate the leadership that voters find lacking in the present administration.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.