http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/12/nyregion/new-york-today-new-york-state-local-primaries.html 2016-09-12 14:16:48 New York Today: Preparing for the Primaries Monday: Parties pick their candidates, remembering 9/11, and the hot-blooded election of 1800. === Updated, 8:15 a.m. Good morning on this flawless Monday. When it comes to the looming state and local elections, the primaries could be the biggest battles. At least in some districts, winning the nomination more or less clears a candidate’s path to victory, according to Sarah Rosier of That’s useful to know, as primaries for New York’s “The primary is often a lot more of a race than the general election is in certain districts,” Ms. Rosier said. With 63 Senate seats, 150 Assembly seats and 10 • Four “That seat hasn’t been open in a while, and four is quite a lot,” Ms. Rosier said. • The long-term incumbent, Velmanette Montgomery, a Democrat who has served in the State Senate since 1984, is facing Michael Cox, who has served prominently in the Obama administration. • The State Senate is split between 31 Democrats and 31 Republicans, with one vacancy. This is the battle for that empty seat, and there are five candidates who want it. • The district is the former realm of Alice Cancel won the Make sure you’re in-the-know before you go Here’s what else is happening: We officially nominate today as a perfect day. A cool morning will slowly give way to a warm afternoon, Expect plenty of sun, a soft breeze, and a cloud or two to make its way across the sky, for a bit of variety. Luckily, similarly splendid candidates are in the forecast this week. On Sunday, • • • • • • • In other news: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The presidential Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were running as Democratic-Republicans, and the president, John Adams, and Charles Pinckney were running as Federalists. The Democratic-Republicans prevailed, but here’s where it gets tricky: At the time, votes did not distinguish between candidates for president and vice president. So when Jefferson and Burr tied, the decision of who would become president was left to the House of Representatives, which was controlled by the Federalists. Alexander Hamilton, a staunch Federalist, loathed Aaron Burr and made it known. He must have had a way with words, because Jefferson — the lesser of two evils, in Hamilton’s opinion — was elected president. You can learn more about this hot-blooded election — and about Hamilton’s legacy — New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can For updates throughout the day, What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, Follow the New York Today columnists, You can find the latest New York Today at