1. Decade-high 85% of state legislative incumbents seeking re-election this year
2. Local roundup
3. Comparing stances: Noteworthy presidential candidates on coronavirus recovery

Decade-high 85% of state legislative incumbents seeking re-election this year

We’re continuing our look at Ballotpedia’s 10th annual state legislative elections competitiveness research by looking at the state legislative incumbents seeking re-election. A decade-high 85% of incumbents are seeking re-election this year. Comparatively, 80.4% of incumbents sought re-election in 2018, while 82.4% did so in 2016.

Looking at partisan breakdown, of the 882 open seats this year, 396 are currently held by Democrats, 480 by Republicans, and six by third-party or independent legislators. 

Montana has the highest percent (32.8%) of open seats up for election this year. Massachusetts has the lowest with 7.5%. The table below shows the five states with the highest and lowest rates of open seats in 2020.

The five states with the highest rates of open seats all have legislatures with term limits. There are 15 states total with state legislative term limits. Fourteen of those 15 states are holding elections this year with 211 state legislators who are term-limited. This is the lowest number since Ballotpedia began collecting data in 2010.

If you missed the first two days of competitiveness analysis, click here and here.

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Local roundup

With the passing of Massachusetts’ statewide primary on Tuesday, only two statewide primaries remain before the Nov. 3 elections. It’s hard to believe we’re in the final stretch! New Hampshire’s primary will be Sept. 8, and Delaware will follow on Sept. 15.

After that date, our team won’t be covering any local elections until Nov. 3. 

Here are some local results from the Sept. 1 elections in Idaho and Massachusetts.

Vanessa Alvarado recall, Reading, Massachusetts

Reading Select Board Member Vanessa Alvarado retained her seat in a recall election on Sept. 1. The recall question received 59.6% of “No” votes. Recall supporters alleged that Alvarado unreasonably stalled the hiring of a new police chief in contravention of the town charter. Recall opponents, including Alvarado, argued that she was trying to provide open, public discussion about the police chief's appointment and took no actions that violated the town charter.

Boise School District school board elections

Incumbents Dennis Doan and Nancy Gregory won re-election to the Boise School District Board of Trustees in Idaho. Doan was appointed to the seven-member board in 2018, while Gregory was first elected in 2002. Gregory received 46.7% of the vote and Doan received 40.4%. The only other candidate on the ballot was James Tooman, who had 12.9%. No incumbent on the board has lost an election since at least 2014.

Comparing stances: Noteworthy presidential candidates on coronavirus recovery

Discussions are continuing about the best path forward in the coronavirus pandemic. In this week’s feature comparing the four noteworthy presidential candidates’ stances on key issues, we’re looking at coronavirus recovery. 

In the past few weeks, we’ve also briefed our Brew readers on the candidates’ stances on charter schools, Medicare for All, and student loan debt.

Joe Biden (D)

Biden's campaign website lists the following seven policies to address the coronavirus pandemic: "Fix Trump’s testing-and-tracing fiasco to ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing. Fix personal protective equipment (PPE) problems for good. Provide clear, consistent, evidence-based national guidance for how communities should navigate the pandemic — and the resources for schools, small businesses, and families to make it through. Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines because discovering isn’t enough if they get distributed like Trump’s testing and PPE fiascos. Protect Older Americans and Others at High Risk. Rebuild and expand the defenses that Trump has dismantled to predict, prevent, and mitigate pandemic threats, including those coming from China. Implement mask mandates nationwide by working with governors and mayors and by asking the American people to do what they do best: step up in a time of crisis."

Howie Hawkins (G)

Hawkins' campaign website lists the following measures for a coronavirus relief package: "Medicare to Pay for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment and All Emergency Health Care. Defense Production Act to Rapidly Plan the Production and Distribution of Medical Supplies and a Universal Test, Contact Trace, and Quarantine Program to Safely Reopen the Economy. An OSHA Temporary Standard to Provide Enforceable PPE Protection for Workers. $2,000 a Month to All Over Age 16 and $500 per Child. Loans to All Businesses and Hospitals for Payroll and Fixed Overhead To Be Forgiven If All Workers Are Kept on Payroll. Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures, and Utility Shutoffs. Cancel Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Payments; Federal Government Pays Those Bills; High-income People Pay Taxes on this Relief. Suspend Student Loan Payments with 0% Interest Accumulation. Federal Universal Rent Control. Aid to State and Local Governments Sufficient to Keep Essential Services Running. Universal Mail-in Ballots for the 2020 General Election."

Jo Jorgensen (L)

Jo Jorgensen's Facebook campaign page features the following three policies: "Immediately grant FDA waiver requests needed for companies to produce COVID-19 tests, N-95 masks, ventilators, protective gear, etc. Make COVID-19 tests available to everyone, including home tests. Allow those who test negative to go back to work. COVID-19 is not the only threat to our health and safety. Unemployment and recession will also lead to more deaths."

Donald Trump (R)

Donald Trump's campaign website states the president had made the following accomplishments regarding coronavirus recovery: "President Trump signed four executive orders to provide coronavirus relief including $400-per-week to out-of-work Americans, student loan relief, and eviction protection for renters and homeowners. The Trump administration’s agreement with U.S. based Pfizer will produce 100 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine, and once developed, the government can acquire an additional 500 million doses. The Administration allocated $400 million in coronavirus funding to enhance the VA’s emergency relief response for homeless Veterans or those at risk of homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic."

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