By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD - The period for candidates to file for state elective office wrapped up on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Secretary of State's office.

With filings complete, the stage is prepared for Republican and Democratic primaries on Sept. 8. Primary winners will then compete in the general election on Nov. 3.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of Nashua will compete against challengers Shaun Fife of Gilmanton and Bob Wayne McClory of Goffstown in the GOP primary.

Democrat Cinde Warmington of Concord, a former executive councilor who sought the Democratic nomination for governor two years ago without success, faces no primary opposition for the governorship.

For the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of Madbury, Democratic contenders include U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas of Manchester, David Jarvis of Manchester, Karishma Manzur of Exeter, Maxwell Saal of Walpole and John Vail of Easton.

Republicans filing for the open Senate seat are Tom Alciere of Hudson, Scott P. Brown of Rye, Sky Danley of Portsmouth, Andy Martin of Manchester, Mary Maxwell of Concord, Richard A. McMenamon II of Gilmanton, Sabrina Ann Smith of Pittsfield and John E. Sununu of Rye.

As Congressman Pappas leaves the District 1 seat to pursue the Senate, six Republicans and nine Democrats are seeking that post.

Republicans in the District 1 primary include Lindsey Anderson of Moultonborough, Melissa Bailey of Bedford, Michael Anthony Callis of Conway, Brian D. Cole of Manchester, Anthony DiLorenzo of Portsmouth and Hollie Noveletsky of Newfields.

Democratic candidates for District 1 Congress are Carleigh Beriont of Hampton, Sarah E. Chadzynski of Lyndeborough, Bill Conlin of Dover, Matthew Emerson of Conway, Heath Howard of Strafford, Stefany Amber Shaheen of Portsmouth, Sarah Bella Spinosa of Manchester, Maura C. Sullivan of New Castle and Christian Urrutia of Moultonborough.

In District 2, incumbent Democrat Maggie Goodlander of Nashua seeks another term and faces primary challenger Paige Beauchemin, also of Nashua. Republicans in that primary are Dan Nicholson of Nashua, Victor Orlando of Hollis and Lily Tang Williams of Weare.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - The Executive Council contests include all four Republican incumbents and one Democrat seeking another two-year term, along with several cross-party challenges. Only two primaries are contested.

District 1 Republican Joseph D. Kenney of Wakefield runs unopposed in the primary. Democrat Luz Bay of Dover also filed unopposed for the primary in that district.

District 2 Democrat Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon seeks re-election without primary opposition and will meet either Republican Tobin Menard of Newport or Kim Strathdee of Plymouth in November.

Republican Janet Stevens of Rye filed for re-election in District 3 and faces Gregory Whirley of Derry in the GOP primary. The nominee will oppose Democrat Lisa Kennedy Sheldon of Portsmouth, who has no primary opponent.

Incumbent Republican John Stephen of Manchester seeks another term as District 4 Executive Councilor and will face Harriet Cady of Deerfield and Terese Bastarache of Loudon in the primary. The winner meets Democrat Jim O'Connell of Manchester, who is unopposed in his primary.

District 5 Republican Dave Wheeler of Milford runs unopposed in the primary but will face Democrat Melanie Levesque of Brookline in the general election.

STATE SENATE - Aside from two retiring senators, Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua, and Ruth Ward, R-Stoddard, the remaining 22 incumbents filed for re-election. Most lack primary opponents yet face general election challengers, except for Democrat Donovan Fenton of Keene and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth.

District 1 Republican David Rochefort of Littleton has no primary opponent but meets Democrat Cathleen Fountain of Dalton in November.

District 2 Republican Timothy P. Lang of Sanbornton runs unopposed in the primary and faces Democrat Kurt Webber of Gilford in the general election.

District 3 Republican Mark McConkey of Freedom is unopposed in the primary and will meet Democrat Bobbi Boudman of Wolfeboro in November.

District 4 Democrat David Watters of Dover has no primary opponent but faces Shawn Mickelonis of Dover in the general election.

District 5 Democrat Suzanne Prentiss of Lebanon runs unopposed in the primary and meets Republican Conrad Schoeffter of Plainfield in November.

District 6 Republican James P. Gray of Rochester has no primary opponent but faces Democrat Cecil Abels of Rochester in the general election.

District 7 Republican Daniel E. Innis of Bradford runs unopposed in the primary and meets Democrat Rebecca Harned of Sutton, who also lacks a primary opponent, in November.

District 8 features no primary contests, with Democrat David Trumble of Weare facing Republican Jim Creighton of Antrim for the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Ward.

District 9 Republican Denise Ricciardi of Bedford has no primary opponent but meets Democrat Matthew McLaughlin of Bedford in November.

District 10 Democrat Donovan Fenton of Keene faces no primary or general election challengers.

District 11 Republican Tim McGough of Merrimack has no primary opponent but faces Democrat Shannon Chandley of Amherst in the general election.

District 12 Republican Kevin Avard of Nashua filed for re-election and meets Democrat Carryl L. Roy of Hollis in November.

District 13 sees the retirement of Democrat Cindy Rosenwald of Nashua. Democrat Laura Telerski of Nashua filed to succeed her without primary opposition and will face Daniel J. Paul of Nashua in the general election.

District 14 Republican and Senate President Sharon M. Carson of Londonderry has no primary opponent but meets Democrat Timothy Wyatt of Hudson, who also lacks a primary challenger, in November.

District 15 Democrat Tara Reardon of Concord has no primary opponent but faces Republican Dennis Blankenbeker of Concord in the general election.

District 16 features primaries in both parties. Republican incumbent Keith Murphy of Manchester faces Anthony Clements of Raymond in the GOP primary. The winner meets either Democrat Dave DePuy of Candia or Dian McCarthy of Goffstown.

District 17 Republican Howard Pearl of Loudon faces primary challenger Julie Smith of Epsom. The nominee meets Democrat Robert Lawliss of Pembroke, who has no primary opponent.

District 18 Republican Victoria Sullivan of Manchester runs unopposed in the primary and meets Democrat Leonard Bell of Manchester in November.

District 19 Republican Regina Birdsell of Hampstead has no primary opponent and faces Democrat Michelle Moge of Derry in the general election.

District 20 Democrat Pat T. Long of Manchester faces primary challenger Matthew Ping of Manchester. The winner meets Republican Patrick Binder of Manchester in November.

District 21 Democrat Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth runs unopposed in the primary and general election.

District 22 Republican Daryl Abbas of Salem has no primary opponent and meets Democrat Chris Tardif of Atkinson in November.

District 23 Republican Bill Gannon of Sandown runs unopposed in the primary and faces Democrat David Childs of South Hampton in the general election.

District 24 Democrat Debra Altschiller of Stratham has no primary opponent but meets Republican Lou Gargiulo of Hampton Falls in November.

All 400 House seats are also on the ballot this fall. Details on cumulative filings for House and county positions are available on the Secretary of State's website.