1. 35% of state legislative races in 2020 have candidates from only one of the two major parties
2. Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary
3. Alaska attorney general resigns

35% of state legislative races in 2020 have candidates from only one of the two major parties

Yesterday, I introduced you to our 10th annual state legislative elections competitiveness research with a look at the number of state legislative candidates this year as compared with 2018. We’re continuing to look at that competitiveness data today with an analysis of races that have candidates from just one of the two major political parties.

In 12 states, more than half of state legislative seats up for election this year have candidates from just one of the two major parties. The table below shows those states, along with the number and percent of races where candidates from only one major party—Democrats or Republicans—are running. For example, 140 of Massachusetts’ 200 state legislative races have no Republican candidates and 19 races have no Democratic candidates.

Conversely, three states—New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota—have both Democratic and Republican candidates for over 90% of the seats up for election this year.

Democratic candidates are running for 82.7% of all seats and Republican candidates are running for 82.1%. Nationwide, 1,016 state legislative seats do not have a Democratic candidate and will likely be won by a Republican and 1,051 seats do not have a Republican candidate and will likely be won by a Democrat. 

Nationally, 2,067 of the 5,875 state legislative seats—35%—up for election this year have candidates from only one of the two major parties. In 2018, 33% of state legislative seats had candidates from only one of the two major parties. In 2016, 42% of such seats had candidates from just one of the two parties.

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Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary 

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Ed Markey defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. With 43% of the precincts reporting, Markey had received 55% of the vote to Kennedy's 45%. Kennedy is the grandson of former Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

Markey served in the U.S. House from 1976 until he was elected to the Senate in a 2013 special election after John Kerry was confirmed as Secretary of State. Markey went on to win a full term in 2014.

Markey received endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Working Families Party.

Markey will face Kevin O'Connor (R)—who won yesterday’s Republican primary—in the general election. The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball all rate the general election as Solid or Safe Democratic.

Democratic primary in Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal defeated Alex Morse in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District. With 63% of the precincts reporting, Neal had received 60% of the vote to Morse's 40%.

Neal was first elected in 1988 and has served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee since 2019. He cited addressing coronavirus and its impact on the economy as key issues in the race. Neal received endorsements from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), and the American Federation of Teachers during the primary.

No Republicans are running for the seat, meaning Neal will face independent Frederick Mayock in the general election. The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball all rate the general election as Solid or Safe Democratic.

Alaska attorney general resigns

Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson (R) resigned on August 25 after ProPublica published an article detailing text messages Clarkson sent to the personal cell phone of a state employee that made her feel uncomfortable. Deputy Attorney General Ed Sniffen will serve as acting attorney general until the governor appoints a replacement. The attorney general is subject to the confirmation of the state legislature in Alaska.

All 50 states have an attorney general who serves as the state's chief legal officer. The attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process. 

The attorney general is directly elected in 43 states and Washington, D.C. Ten states are holding elections for attorney general on November 3. Maine's state legislature appoints its attorney general. The Tennessee Supreme Court appoints its state attorney general. In five states—Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming—the governor appoints the attorney general.

The current partisan affiliation of attorneys general is as follows: 

• 22 were elected as—or are running for office as—Republicans, 

• 21 were elected as Democrats, 

• 3 were appointed by Republican governors, 

• 2 were appointed by Democratic governors, 

• one was elected by a Democratic-controlled state legislature, and 

• one was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court. 

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