Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman Thu., Mar. 25, was the deadline to file petitions with the Ulster County Board of Elections to secure a line in the fall election. Republicans filed petitions to be on the ballot in 18 of the Legislature's 23 districts, leaving five seats now held by Democrats unchallenged. The Democrats are putting up candidates in 21 legislative districts, leaving two Republican candidates unchallenged, and 16 remaining districts with contested races. Of the 44 candidates running to fill seats on the Legislature, 18 are incumbents, while five candidates are former lawmakers looking to make a comeback. In four districts, candidates will square off in rematches. Democrats in two legislative districts are facing primary challenges in advance of the November election. Five incumbent legislators — Mary Warwo, of Saugerties, Mary Beth Maio, of Lloyd, Heidi Haynes, of Esopus, Lynn Archer, of Accord and James Delaune, of New Paltz — have chosen not to seek re-election. The Democrats currently hold a 12-10 majority in the county Legislature. All legislators are elected to two-year terms. Under a local law adopted in 2019, legislators are limited to serving no more than 12 years in office, although the time incumbent lawmakers spent in office prior to the 2019 election is not counted toward those term limits. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.