WASHINGTON – New Hampshire is among the smallest states in the country, but its state primaries on Tuesday have enough intrigue to fill a much larger state.

The New England state has an independent streak that makes it hard to categorize as red or blue. While it has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in each of the last five elections, it’s also sent the moderate Republican Chris Sununu to the governor’s mansion four times. Its four-person congressional delegation has been comprised entirely of Democrats since 2017, but Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

Tuesday’s primaries will set the stage for a revealing general election. Due to the retirements of Sununu and longtime Rep. Ann Kuster, there are open races for governor and the state’s 2nd Congressional District. Both races have competitive Republican and Democratic primaries. And on top of those key executive and legislative races, all seats in the nation’s largest state legislature are up for election in 2024.

The Republican gubernatorial primary will pit Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator who has promised to stay on the “Sununu path,” against former state Senate president Chuck Morse, who has touted himself as the “sole New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate to have endorsed Donald Trump.” Ayotte is the leading fundraiser in the race, with over $7 million raised so far.

On the Democratic side, Joyce Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, will face Cinde Warmington, the lone Democrat on the New Hampshire Executive Council, and business owner Jon Kiper. Craig is the second-highest fundraiser among candidates for governor from either party, trailing only Ayotte.

The 2nd Congressional District, which stretches across the state’s eastern side and is the bluer of the state’s two districts, has a Republican field of more than a dozen candidates. The leading fundraiser is Vikram Mansharamani, an economist and author, with 2022 candidate Lily Tang Williams trailing by about $100,000.

But the Democratic primary, which is between political operatives Maggie Goodlander and Colin Van Ostern, has developed into the more expensive – and nastier – race.

Kuster has waded in on behalf of Van Ostern, a former staffer of hers. In an ad she filmed for him, she criticized Goodlander for not living in the district for decades. Goodlander, who worked for the late Sen. John McCain and in the Department of Justice, was born and raised in the district but owns property in the state’s other congressional district. Van Ostern, who unsuccessfully sought the governor’s mansion in 2016, is pitching himself as the candidate with more grassroots support.

Here’s a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

Primary Day

New Hampshire’s state primaries will be held on Tuesday. The last polls close at 8 p.m. ET, although polls in most of the state close at 7 p.m. ET. Polls in two towns close at 7:30 p.m. ET.

What’s on the Ballot

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for governor, U.S. House, state Senate, state House, and executive council.

Who Gets to Vote

Voters registered with a political party may vote only in their own party’s primary. Independent or undeclared voters may participate in any primary.

Decision Notes

New Hampshire counts votes on election night, with results reported at the township level, not the county level. The AP will analyze early returns to determine potential winners.

Turnout and advance voting data indicate an engaged electorate in New Hampshire. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the results and winners of the state primaries.

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Associated Press writer Robert Yoon in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.