The primary day is upon us: here's what you need to know

ALBANY – It seems like New York can dodge the wrath of Hurricane Florence on Thursday, which will be good for voter turnout at Primary Day.

In the capital region and for much of the north of the state, polling stations are open at noon and 9 pm. (In New York and Nassau counties, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie, they open at 6 pm)

Visit the website of your local electoral council to find your polling station.

Here are the big races to follow Thursday night on timesunion.com:

Cuomo vs. Nixon

Governor Andrew Cuomo, a second-term Democrat, will face actress and activist Cynthia Nixon on Thursday.

Cuomo is leading his opponent from the left flank in polls and spending, although 2018 has brought surprising victories to insurgent progressive candidates, and polls have proved unreliable to predict the outcome of those races.

The governor has the approval of leading state newspapers and powerful unions, while Nixon has obtained support from the influential Working Families party.

The candidates exchanged jabs during their only debate, organized last month and organized by CBS.

Lt. Governor

Kathy Hochul, a former congresswoman from western New York, was elected as Cuomo's running mate in 2014. While the governor and lieutenant governor met in the November general election, they ran separately in the Democratic primary. Although the position is relatively helpless – with the exception of its leadership position – this year's race has created intriguing political opportunities.

Hochul faces a left-wing challenge from Jumaane Williams, a New York City councilman in Brooklyn. If Williams beat Hochul Thursday and Cuomo also won his first prize, two opponents would top the Democratic ticket in November.

Four-man race in AG

The Democratic nomination for the Attorney General was not to be on the agenda this year, but a four-way race took place after incumbent incumbent Eric Schneiderman resigned in May, as a result of the postponement. an explosive report in the New Yorker. physically abused several women. He denied elements of the article.

The estate includes New York City public attorneys, Letitia "Tish" James, US Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, former Gov. candidate Zephyr Teachout, and Lawyer. company Leecia Eve.
All candidates pledged to act as an independent force against corruption and emphasized their opposition to the policies of President Donald J. Trump.

James, who won the support of the Democratic Party's establishment at their national convention in May, is supported by Cuomo. Teachout was one of Nixon's early supporters.

The Reform Party, launched in 2014 as the Stop Common Core Party, opened its Attorney General to all unaffiliated voters in New York. The candidates are Nancy Sliwa, practicing lawyer and wife of the party president; Mike Diederich, a civil rights lawyer; and Christopher Garvey, who was the libertarian candidate for AG in 2006.

Legislative seats

In the Capital Region, Democrats Tistrya Houghtling and Don Boyajian are fighting to face outgoing Republican MP Jake Ashby in the 107th Assembly District, which includes districts of Washington, Rensselaer and Columbia counties.

Patrick Vincent and Robert Smullen vie for the Republican and Conservative nominations in the race to replace Republican Marc Butler in his central New York district, which includes Fulton County.

In the Hudson Valley, there is a multi-candidate Democratic primary for the seat of Frank Skartados MP, Democrat of Ulster County, who died in April.

Progressive Democratic activists across the state and beyond are facing the main challenges of former members of the Senate's Independent Democratic Conference, who joined the party's conference in April after working for more than seven years with the Republicans of the United States. Senate.

The most interesting of these races are held in New York, with serious challenges for former IDC leader Jeff Klein, as well as former colleagues Marisol Alcantara, Jesse Hamilton, Tony Avella and Jose Peralta.

Senator Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat who supports Republican control of the chamber, is also facing a primary.

In the final days of the election campaign, much attention was paid to the personal account of Julia Salazar, who is trying to wring the Democratic nomination from outgoing Brooklyn President Martin Dilan.