Allison Cartwright

Allison Cartwright was a relative unknown when she announced she was running for office in February. So, too, was the office she sought — the clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County.

On August 14, seven Democratic candidates vying for three positions on the Governor’s Council, the Clerk of Court for Civil Business, and the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court met at the Lena Park Community Center to debate the issues ahead of the primary on September 3.

This week, many Democratic voters are laser-focused on their party’s national convention in Chicago. But while the party’s nomination of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is a foregone conclusion, local Democrats in the Boston area face competitive races in the often-overlooked state primary, which this year takes place Sept. 3.

Black voters heading to the polls later this year in Massachusetts will have the opportunity to weigh in on not only the 2024 presidential race — a rematch between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — but a contested race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Elizabeth Warren, at least six ballot questions, several contested legislative races and an rare race for an open court position.