NEW YORK, NY September 09, 2008 —It's primary day. New Yorkers head to the polls to select their party's candidates for State Senate, State Assembly, and Congress. WNYC's Isaac Davy-Aronson has more.

REPORTER: There's an unusual number of competitive primaries in the city this year, which some poll watchers expect could lead to higher-than-usual voter turnout.

Many term-limited city council members are vying for state Assembly and Senate seats, and a few veteran state legislators, including powerful Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, are facing their fiercest challenges in years.

At stake is whose names will be on the ballot in November, when the entire legislature and Congressional delegation are up for election. Republicans are fighting to avoid losing their one-seat majority in the State Senate - the last GOP bastion in Albany - while Democrats have the opportunity to pick up the only Republican congressional seat in New York City, that of scandal-scarred Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella, who is retiring. For WNYC, I'm Isaac Davy-Aronson.

HOST: Polls are open until 9pm in New York.