After a long summer of working for votes we are now at the first hurdle for candidates of public office: the primary.

Granted, not every race in the region will be settled by the primary but it is very important, especially this year.

On the state-level, there are active races involved in the primary, with the one that has received the greatest attention being the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Geoff Diehl received the nod from the convention, but Chris Doughty has been waging an increasingly active campaign not just against Diehl but also targeting the Democratic candidate-apparent Attorney General Maura Healey.

Doughty’s TV ads have targeted Healey instead of Diehl, with Doughty casting himself as a Charlie Baker-style conservative Republican.

With the other candidates ceasing their campaigns, Healey has had a remarkably easy road to the November ballot. The conventional wisdom is that she will be the next governor, but life has certainly taught me that in politics it’s not over until the electorate has spoken.

I think Healey would have campaigned more on specifics if she had her Democratic opponents nipping at her heels. I’m hoping more details on issues such as improving educational opportunities and cutting taxes are revealed in the final election.

There is a Democratic primary for the state auditor position with three candidates seeking that nomination, but the attorney general’s race is attracting more attention. Healey has thrown her support behind Andrea Campbell, an attorney and a former member of Boston’s City Council. Her opponent, Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, has touted her experience as a lawyer in a flurry of TV and radio ads. Quentin Palfrey is the third candidate.

There is also a Democratic primary for secretary of state pitting longtime incumbent William Galvin against Tanisha Sullivan, that winner will run against Republican Rayla Campbell in November.

Of course, the primary will be the time to narrow down the field of candidates for lieutenant governor. We have a hometown favorite in state Sen. Eric Lesser although he has been stuck in third place much of the campaign, but now has moved up to second place. A great number of officials in Western Massachusetts have backed Lesser, including Congressman Richard Neal, but others, such as state Rep. Mike Finn and Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, are backing Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

The State House News Service reported last week, “On the Democratic side, Kim Driscoll was leading the lieutenant governor’s race with 13 percent support (Eric Lesser with 9 percent and Tami Gouveia with 6 percent), but 72 percent of primary voters said they have not yet made up their minds.”

Throughout Western Massachusetts there are four Democrats for Governor’s Council – Shawn Allyn, Michael Fenton, Tara Jacobs and Jeffrey Morneau. The winner of the primary will face Republican John Comerford in the final election.

In Hampshire County the primary will determine the next county sheriff. Incumbent Patrick Cahillane is facing challengers Yvonne Gittelson and Caitlin Sepeda.

In Hampden County, the Democratic candidate for the state Senate seat Lesser is vacating will be determined by the primary. State Rep. Jake Oliveria and Sydney Levin-Epstein are squaring off with the winner running against Republican William Johnson.

In Springfield, state Rep. Bud Williams is being challenged by community activist Jynai McDonald in a primary fight.

In Chicopee, the primary winner for the state representative seat currently filled by the retiring Joseph Wagner – either City Councilor Joel McAuliffe or Shirley Arriaga – will run against independent candidate Sean Goonan.

Primary elections are important even though some people might not think so. Voting for your candidate hopefully will ensure their name appearing on the final ballot. If I missed an election, my apologies. There is a lot going on this year! See you at the polls.