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Politics & Government

The 2012 Voter Guide: Covering NJ's Candidates and Contests

NJ Spotlight's interactive guide puts 18 races and 61 contests at your fingertips.

Both parties' presidential nominees may be decided, but there are still a dozen high-profile battles around the state -- including the crowded Republican U.S. Senate field -- to draw voters to the polls on June 5.

With a week to go until then, NJ Spotlight is launching its 2012 Voter Guide, where voters can learn more about the candidates and their positions on key issues. Supplementing the guide, we will be providing in-depth coverage of each primary contest.

In half of New Jersey's newly constituted 12 congressional districts, there is a race to win the nomination of either the Democratic or Republican party. In three others, the 2nd in South Jersey and 5th and 9th in the north, both parties have contests.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 9th District also has one of the most watched primaries in the state.

The battle in that district, which covers portions of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties, is the direct result of redistricting. New Jersey lost a seat in Congress because the state's population did not grow as fast as others as measured by the 2010 U.S. Census. The commission that redrew the lines combined portions of the districts represented by U.S. Reps. Steven Rothman and Bill Pascrell, both Democrats. Rothman's hometown was moved into the Republican-leaning 5th, but rather than run against the incumbent Republican there, Rothman chose to move into the 9th. Three Republicans also filed for their party's nod in the 9th.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the neighboring 10th, which covers portions of Essex, Union, and Hudson counties, the death last month of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne has left a vacancy. Six Democrats, four of whom hold some other elective office, have filed to replace him in the new congress. There is also a special election to replace Payne through the end of the current Congress in early January and three of the same six candidates are running in that election, as well.

Continue reading on NJSpotlight.com.

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