No matter what happens at the polls Tuesday, the state Assembly will have some fresh blood next year. Two of its most senior members are retiring: Richard Gottfried of Manhattan and Kathy Nolan of Queens, who have served a combined 90 years in the chamber.

Other incumbents leaving office include Manhattan's Dan Quart and Yuh-Line Niou — who's running for Congress — plus Brian Barnwell of Queens, accounting for five open seats in the city.

What You Need To Know

  • Almost half of the city’s Assembly members are facing primary challenges, largely from the left

  • Among those in competitive races are Inez Dickens of Manhattan, Jeff Dinowitz and Michael Benedetto of the Bronx and Erik Martin Dilan of Brooklyn

  • Depending on location, voters may also be choosing Civil Court and Surrogate's Court judges

  • Party positions on the ballot include state committee members, district leaders, delegates to judicial conventions and county committee members

Then, there are the incumbents fighting for their political lives.

Altogether, almost half the Assembly members in the city — 27 in all — are facing primary challenges, largely from the left.

"I think that overwhelmingly, the incumbents will win,” said Jay Jacobs, chairman of the state’s Democratic Pary.

Jacobs believes the left wants too much, too soon, running the risk of a backlash that could endanger Democrats in the suburbs and upstate.

"We've been doing wonderful things, and really making great strides,” Jacobs said. “Why blow it, and hand so much back to the Republicans because we've just overstepped, gone too far, overplayed our hand and get smacked down."

Among those facing tough competition in Tuesday’s primary election are Inez Dickens of Manhattan, Jeff Dinowitz and Michael Benedetto of the Bronx and Erik Martin Dilan of Brooklyn.

"What we have seen in the past couple of years with the Assembly in particular has been slowing down progress,” said Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party.

The WFP and other forces of the left, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are backing several challengers, citing issues like climate and housing.

"What we see right now are many out-of-touch incumbents who are bankrolled by Big Pharma, by real estate, by Wall Street donors, by Trump donors,” Nnaemeka said. “And that really shows that they are not standing on the side of working people."

In addition to Assembly races, voters in some boroughs will be choosing Civil Court and Surrogate's Court judges.

Party positions like state committee members, district leaders, delegates to judicial conventions and county committee members are also up for grabs.