Today's Brew highlights how the coronavirus outbreak has affected ballot measure campaigns + recaps Tuesday’s state legislative primaries in Illinois
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Welcome to the Friday, March 20, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

* Coronavirus' effects on state and local ballot measures
* Two incumbents defeated in Illinois state legislative primaries
* What’s the Tea?

_Updates on the stories below related to the coronavirus outbreak are current through Thursday afternoon. Click here for the latest news ([link removed]) ._
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** CORONAVIRUS' EFFECTS ON STATE AND LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES
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In recent days, many government offices and services have been limited or closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We will continue to bring you new information on how federal, state, and local governments are responding to this evolving situation in the _Brew_.

In the meantime, we're asking for your help in compiling how local governments are responding. You can help us by sending us information in one of three ways: completing this form ([link removed]) , filling out this spreadsheet ([link removed]) , or by emailing me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Today, let’s take a look at ballot measures.

Gathering signatures for initiative and referendum petitions naturally requires a great deal of public activity, which is limited in the time of coronavirus responses. We’ve been following along with how the various campaigns across the country are adjusting to the current reality.

CAMPAIGNS IN AT LEAST THREE STATES HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR SIGNATURE DRIVES TO PLACE MEASURES ON THE BALLOT.

* In San Francisco, FASTER Bay Area announced March 17 that it had stopped gathering signatures to put a sales tax increase initiative to fund public transportation on the November ballot.
* On March 16, Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform suspended its signature petition drive for the Criminal History in Sentencing and Sentence Modification Initiative.
* The same day, the campaign behind the Idaho Income Tax Increases for Education Funding Initiative suspended signature-gathering.

THE WASHINGTON, D.C. BOARD OF ELECTIONS VOTED ON MARCH 12 TO POSTPONE THE START OF SIGNATURE GATHERING FOR THE ENTHEOGENIC PLANTS AND FUNGUS INITIATIVE. The campaign supporting the Entheogenic Plants and Fungus Initiative ([link removed])) requested a delayed start to the initiative’s 180-day circulation period.

At least TWO STATES HAVE CHANGED BALLOT MEASURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. The Colorado Title Board's meeting for March 18 was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The board determines whether a proposed citizen-initiated measure complies with the state's single-subject rule and writes a ballot title for the measure. In Washington state, the elections office was closed to the public beginning March 16. The elections office posted a notice stating that initiative and referendum filings would be processed at the executive office of the Secretary of State at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington.

Additionally, the list below includes other notable coronavirus-related updates since Thursday's Brew:

* Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) announced the postponement of the state's April 28 presidential preference primary to June 2.
* President Donald Trump signed the coronavirus relief bill—H.R. 6201 ([link removed]) —into law.
* The United States and Canada mutually agreed to close their border to non-essential traffic.
* Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the federal government would give taxpayers 90 additional days after April 15 to pay income taxes due on up to $1 million in tax owed. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Steven Daines (R-Mont.), and Angus King (I-Maine) filed legislation seeking to delay the federal tax filing deadline for 90 days in conjunction with Mnuchin's action.
* Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order temporarily closing schools, prohibiting in-house dining at restaurants and bars, closing gyms, and restricting public gatherings to 10 people or less.

Learn more ([link removed])

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** NUMBERS OF INCUMBENTS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION BREAK RECORDS IN IL HOUSE, SENATE
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Illinois held state legislative primaries on March 17, and we’ve analyzed the results to share them with you today.

THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE SAW THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST NUMBERS OF INCUMBENTS RUNNING IN A DECADE, RESPECTIVELY.

In the state House, 92% OF RACES (109) HAD AN INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. Two incumbents lost: Democratic Reps. Yehiel Kalish in House District 16 and Yoni Pizer in House District 12. This was the first election for both incumbents. Kalish was appointed to his position in 2019 following the resignation of Rep. Lou Lang (D). Pizer was appointed in 2020 following the appointment of Sara Feigenholtz (D) to the state Senate.

In the state Senate, 70% OF RACES (14) FEATURED AN INCUMBENT. All 14 incumbents won their primary elections.

There were 38 contested party primaries: eight for state Senate seats and 30 for state House seats. Twenty-eight were Democratic primaries and 10 were Republican primaries. Incumbents ran in 22 of the 38 primaries.

Three incumbents—two Democrats and one Republican—were defeated in 2018’s primaries. One Democratic incumbent lost in the primary in 2016. Three incumbents were defeated in the state’s 2014 state legislative primaries.

The 38 contested primaries this year were fewer than the 61 contested primaries in 2018 and greater than the 33 in 2016.

Of the 20 seats up in the Senate, 14 will have an incumbent running in the general election. Of the 118 seats up in the House, at least 106 will feature an incumbent.

Democrats hold a 40-19 supermajority in the Senate and a 74-44 supermajority in the House. Illinois became one of 15 Democratic state government trifectas when Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) was elected in 2018.

The Illinois General Assembly will be responsible for drawing both state and congressional district lines after the 2020 census.

Learn more→ ([link removed])
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**
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Undoubtedly, these are unusual times. But times of crises can bring people together, even if we're all staying six feet apart. We know that so many folks are doing things to help their neighbors and their communities, and we'd love to hear those stories.

So we want to hear from you. Do you know of a group looking to make someone else’s life brighter right now? Can you share a story about a friend or neighbor (or yourself) looking out for someone who needs a helping hand? As the coronavirus continues to spread, we'd love to hear how people are helping others—whether large or small—to make it through this situation.

Please send your stories to me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . And if you give us permission, we’d love to share some of these in a future edition of the _Brew_!
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