First-term congresswoman Mazie Hirono gets a free ride through the Sept. 20 primary election, since no fellow Democrats signed up to challenge her re-election bid.

The same can be said for Republican Roger Evans and Libertarian Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan Jr., who also have no opposition in the primary. They will meet up against Hirono in the Nov. 4 general election for the U.S. House seat in the 2nd Congressional District, which is comprised of about 40 percent suburban O'ahu and 60 percent Neighbor Islands.

Independent candidate Shaun Stenshol could join them, but must receive at least 10 percent of the total votes cast for the seat in the primary, or receive as many votes as the lowest vote total among the partisan candidates who make it to November.

Hirono, 60, is the overwhelming favorite. She has raised $1.07 million for the campaign and has $535,000 left in her war chest, according to a report filed Monday. By contrast, none of the other three candidates has even filed a report, which is required only after $5,000 in contributions is received.

Lieutenant governor under former governor Ben Cayetano, Hirono has also served in the state House and Senate.

All three other candidates have previously run unsuccessfully for elected office.

Evans, 69, is a retired businessman who lives in Hawaiian Paradise Park, a subdivision in the Big Island's Puna area. In 2006, he ran for Hawai'i County Council. The veteran Republican Party member has also previously run unsuccessfully for Big Island mayor and state Senate.

Mallan, 64, is a resident of Kapa'a and former president of Artful Expressions. A longtime Libertarian Party of Hawaii official, he ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2002. He lost bids for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and 2004.

Stenshol, 41, is president of Bio-Beetle Rental Cars and Maui Recycling Services. The Ha'iku resident ran unsuccessfully for state Senate and House in 2004 and 2000, respectively. He was formerly an official with the Hawai'i Green Party.