Welcome to the Friday, September 4, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. 79.4% of state legislative incumbents had no primary opposition this year
2. Feltes, Volinsky square off for Democratic nod in New Hampshire's governor's race
3. Candidate Connection spotlight

Note: There won’t be an edition of the Brew coming to your mailbox on Monday due to Labor Day, but we’ll be back as usual on Tuesday, September 8. Enjoy your weekend!

79.4% of state legislative incumbents had no primary opposition this year

We’re taking one more look this week at Ballotpedia’s 10th annual state legislative elections competitiveness report. Today, let’s explore the number of incumbents who were unopposed in their party’s primary. This year, 79.6% of incumbents advanced to the general election without a primary challenge. This is a higher rate than in 2018 (78.1%) and 2016 (79.4%), but lower than in 2014 (79.9%).

Nationwide since 2016, the number of Republican incumbents with primary challenges has decreased while the number of Democratic incumbents in contested primaries has increased.

A total of 127 incumbents—43 Democrats and 84 Republicans—have lost so far this year in contested primates. This means that 89.6% of all Democratic incumbents and 81.6% of all Republican incumbents running for re-election won their primary.

The pie charts below show the number of incumbents who won and lost in contested primaries. The 2020 chart does not include data from those states that have not yet held primaries—New Hampshire, Delaware, and Rhode Island. 

You can read more about incumbents in contested primaries, incumbents defeated in primaries, and other competitiveness factors in this year’s state legislative elections. Click here to read the full report.

Learn more

       

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Feltes, Volinsky square off for Democratic nod in New Hampshire's governor's race 

In even-numbered years, the Labor Day weekend usually signals we’re approaching the end of the primary election season. Just three states—New Hampshire (Sept. 8), Rhode Island (Sept. 8), and Delaware (Sept. 15)—have yet to hold their statewide primaries. All three primaries are being held on their originally scheduled date—the coronavirus pandemic did not alter the date.

Ballotpedia has identified four primaries in New Hampshire as battlegrounds—elections we expect will affect the balance of power, or will be particularly competitive or compelling. Today we’re previewing New Hampshire's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Dan Feltes and Andru Volinsky are competing for the Democratic nomination. John DiStaso of WMUR 9 wrote about the race, “While Volinsky is viewed as a bit further to the left philosophically than Feltes, in fact the two are similar on many other issues and point to their experiences representing for middle- and low-income people among their chief qualifications to go up against” the Republican nominee.

New Hampshire is one of 14 states with divided government, as Democrats control both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had divided government for all but two years since 2011. It was a Republican trifecta in 2017 and 2018. 

Republicans controlled the state Senate from 2011 to 2018. Partisan control of the state House has changed four times over the last decade. 

New Hampshire is one of two states—along with neighboring Vermont—where the governor’s term in office is two years rather than four. Incumbent Chris Sununu (R) was first elected in 2016 and was re-elected in 2018, defeating Molly Kelly (D), 53% to 46%. Before Sununu was elected, Democrats had held the office since 2005. 

The Cook Political Report and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball rate the gubernatorial general election as Likely Republican. Inside Elections rates the race as Lean Republican.

Candidate Connection spotlight

On Fridays, we’ve been including some selected responses to questions from Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. The survey is designed to ask candidates what they care about, what they stand for, and what they hope to achieve. We designed it to try to help voters learn more about candidates as people and we ask all candidates with a Ballotpedia profile to complete it.  

Here is a list of the survey questions we've highlighted so far:

• What is your favorite book? Why?

• What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

• If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

• Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? 

We received 1,884 responses to this week’s question: “What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?” Here are some selected responses: 

“The most important principles for any elected office are a desire to serve the public good, the patience to listen to the community, one person at a time, and  the capacity to be thoughtful of the insights gained by listening to the people who gave them their most valuable asset, -their vote.”

-Alex Spenser, Democratic candidate for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District

“It is important to be a good listener. Not just to hear words being spoken, but to understand perspective and what is really being asked for. This can give insight into finding effective solutions to problems. Being accessible and flexible in scheduling is necessary.  An elected official must have integrity to be trusted by constituents and have their confidence to do the right thing.  Having a passion for public service is what will fuel continued work and accomplishments. Working well with others and respecting their views are important to build a strong team.”

-Agnes Gibboney, Republican candidate for California's 31st Congressional District

“A sense of responsibility. One who often considers fairness. Modest but skilled.  An open-minded personality.  A generally honest and sincere person.  Good work ethic.  A generally ethical mindset.  One who listens. One who fulfills promises and the duties of the Office." 

-Pamala Smith, Independent candidate running for Vermont Secretary of State 

If a candidate hasn't yet responded to our survey, send them this link and ask them to complete it. We’ll include their responses on their profile so we can all learn more about them.

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The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns.