Gov. Green appoints Michael Ratcliffe to fill House vacancy

Gov. Josh Green appointed Michael “Cov” Ratcliffe as the state representative for House District 28, filling the vacancy created by the appointment of former Rep. Daniel Holt.

House District 28 includes the communities of Sand Island, Iwilei, and Chinatown.

“Congratulations to Cov Ratcliffe on this well-deserved appointment,” Green said. “Drawing from his own lived experience, he understands firsthand the challenges many local families face. His academic background, legal career, and years of community service have prepared him well for this moment. I am confident he will be a thoughtful, dedicated voice for District 28.”

Ratcliffe is an attorney specializing in labor law and serves on the Kalihi-Pālama Neighborhood Board. He attended California State University, East Bay, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and history, and returned home to study and earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law.

During that time, he worked for the Attorney General’s Appellate Division and for Associate Justice Sabrina S. McKenna of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. After graduation, Ratcliffe became a law clerk for the Honorable Associate Judge Kimberly Tsumoto Guidry, of the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals.

As a labor law attorney, Ratcliffe has represented public-sector unions and advocated for working-class families across Hawaiʻi. His practice reflects a deep commitment to economic fairness, workers’ rights, and ensuring that communities have a strong voice at the table.

“I am deeply honored to serve my community with compassion and to be a strong voice to ensure the people of District 28 feel seen and heard. I understand the challenges facing working-class families: the rising cost of living, public safety, and affordable housing. I will show up, listen, and fight hard for them every day,” Ratcliffe said. “District 28 is a community of strength, resilience, and pride. As the son of a Mexican immigrant, I understand the pressures many local families face today—and I will carry their stories, their struggles, and their hopes with me into every decision I make.”

Ratcliffe was selected by Green from a list provided by the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. Pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes 17-4, the governor shall make an appointment within 60 calendar days following the first day of vacancy to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.

Ratcliffe will serve as representative for House District 28 through the remainder of the term, which expires in November 2026. He took the oath of office during the floor session Tuesday, April 14, and is now carrying out his duties as a state representative.