Of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts, only 16 have contested primary contests today.
Clik here to view.
It's primary election day in New Jersey, which means scenes like this one will be played out all across the Garden State as voters head to the polls. All polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.It's 6 a.m., which means polls are open for today's primary elections in New Jersey.
The top of the ticket is the state Legislature, where candidates are competing for their parties' nod to run for one of 120 seats for state Senate and Assembly in the November general election.
A total of 86 candidates are competing for either the Democrats' or Republicans' nomination to run for one of 40 Senate seats, while 179 candidates are seeking to win their parties nod to run for one of 80 Assembly seats.
Dozens of contested elections are also on tap today on the local level throughout the Garden State.
Voting is open to the state's 1.7 million registered Democrats and 1 million registered Republicans. The 2.4 million unaffiliated voters can vote, but they'll have to register with a party first.
Of the state's 40 legislative districts, however, just 16 have contested primary contests. Here are some of the ones to watch:
20TH DISTRICT
In Union County's 20th District, powerful state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) faces Jerome Dunn, an assistant school superintendent in the Elizabeth, for the Democrats’ state Senate nomination. Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), recently chair of the state Democratic party, and Assembly running mate Annette Quijano (D-Union) face former Elizabeth Board of Education Member Tony Monteiro and Elizabeth Councilman Carlos Cedeno. The race has gotten especially heated in recent weeks, as both sides have attempted to paint the other as Republican-leaning.
25TH DISTRICT
In the Morris County-dominated 25th District, state Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) faces William Chegwidden, a Morris County freeholder and mayor of Wharton, for the GOP nomination. The race has gotten more nasty than usual for genteel Morris County. On the Assembly side, John G. Sierchio is running against incumbents Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) and Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris) for one of two seats.
Clik here to view.
A familiar sight at polling sites all across New Jersey, as voters head to the polls today for primary elections that will determine who represents the two major political parties in the November general elections.27TH DISTRICT
In the Essex and Morris County-based 27th District, which leans Democratic but some Republicans think could be competitive in November, tea party Republican William H. Eames is running against establishment-backed William Sullivan in the GOP primary for the chance to run against longtime incumbent Richard Codey (D-Essex) in November. On the Assembly side, it's the Democrats who face a primary, with former Millburn Township Committeewoman Ellen Steinberg challenging incumbents Mila Jasey (D-Essex) and John McKeon (D-Essex).
33RD DISTRICT
In Hudson County's 33rd District, Hoboken Councilman Ravi Bhalla is running an independent challenge in the Democratic primary to organization-backed Assemblyman Ruben Ramos (D-Hudson) and Jersey City police detective Sean Connors.
38TH DISTRICT
In the mainly Bergen County 38th District, Bergen County Freeholder Chairman John Driscoll is running against Kenneth DelVecchio, a conservative filmmaker.
1ST DISTRICT
In South Jersey's 1st Legislative District — made up of Cape May County and part of Cumberland and Atlantic Counties — GOP organization-backed state candidate David S. DeWeese is facing Thomas Greto for the party nod for state Senate. For Assembly, organization-backed Samuel Fiocchi and Suzanne M. Walters face Peter F. Boyce and Paul J. Halley. This Republican-leaning district is represented by three moderate Democrats, and Republicans hope to put it in play in November.
⇒ LIVE ELECTION RESULTS TONIGHT
Clik here to view.
Polls close at 8 p.m. at every polling site across the state.
Results of the Senate and Assembly races will be posted on NJ.com's election page — nj.com/elections — as soon as they become available tonight, and results of contested local races in Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties will be posted on NJ.com's county news pages as soon as our reporters confirm the numbers.