Hawaii's highest-ranking Republican lawmaker just quit the party, a blow to a GOP caucus that was already shrinking.

• State Senator Brenton Awa sent a resignation letter to the Hawaii GOP, which accepted it, and he's now registered as an Independent.
• The move follows his loss last week in the Congressional District 2 race against incumbent Democrat Jill Tokuda by a wide margin.
• Hawaii Republicans in the state legislature now hold just two Senate seats, down from three, with Samantha DeCorte taking over as the new minority leader.
• A political analyst says the switch may be less about ideology and more about positioning Awa for a future run for mayor or other office, since dropping the Republican label could make it easier to work with Democrats.
• Awa said partisan politics has become so polarizing that his record was overlooked simply because of his party affiliation.

Outlook: Awa is expected to keep the door open for a future run for higher office, possibly mayor, now unburdened by the Republican label in a heavily Democratic state.