Democratic primary election for Governor and retired from politics. King's parents supported the Republican Party, but King wanted to push for more people to join the Democratic Party. She felt that the philosophy of the Democratic Party would be of more interest in Hawaii's population of diverse ethnic backgrounds. While strongly encouraging the public to be more involved with the politics, King was able to make laws pass that allowed the public to attend the meetings of government officials. Death and legacy According to her granddaughter, King died at age 87 from pancreatic cancer on November 24, 2013. With the effort and strides that King made, she had been an influence for more women to run for political positions in Hawaii. Senator Mazie Hirono was one of the women who admired King and remembered her with "As the first person elected to the office of lieutenant governor, Jean helped paved the way for women, such as myself." Colleen Hanabusa recognized King as a female role model. In March 2016, Hawaiʻi Magazine ranked King in a list of the most influential women in Hawaiian history. See also List of female lieutenant governors in the United States List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States References 1925 births 2013 deaths Hawaii politicians of Japanese descent American people of Scottish descent American women of Japanese descent in politics Lieutenant Governors of Hawaii Democratic Party members of the Hawaii House of Representatives Democratic Party Hawaii state senators Politicians from Honolulu Women state legislators in Hawaii University of Hawaiʻi alumni New York University alumni Deaths from pancreatic cancer Deaths from cancer in Hawaii 21st-century American women