All of New Jersey’s 80 Assembly seats are up for election this year, but in Tuesday’s primary only 10 of them are contested.
The primary is just the preamble to the real fight in November. Democrats have controlled the Assembly since 2001, but Republicans hope to pick up nine seats to regain the majority.
Still, with months to go before most of the races heat up, the 170 major-party candidates vying for the spots have raised more than $12 million so far and spent more than $6 million.
Tuesday’s ballot also will have one special primary election for a state senate seat in Camden and Gloucester counties, but Democrat Nilsa Cruz-Perez is running unopposed. Democrats already control New Jersey’s Senate and the state has a GOP governor.
Here are 10 things to know about New Jersey's legislative races:
Sources: New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission reports through May 22, the latest available filings; New Jersey Division of Elections, National Institute on Money in State Politics.