Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Albany Times Union that Rensselaer County Democrats have never held the county executive job, but this year they have a chance. For most of the past 20 years, Crowe reports, the county has been the only place in the state where unaffiliated voters outnumber either Democrats or Republicans. This year the Republicans running -- Deputy County Executive Christopher Meyer of Grafton and Assemblyperson Steven McLaughlin of Troy -- will face off in several primary elections, with a chance that both are on the general election ballot. Democrat Andrea Smyth is also running to replace County Executive Kathleen Jimino, and her party says voter registration is trending their way. First though, Meyer and McLaughlin square off in a Republican primary, and a Conservative primary. Meyer's name is on the Reform Party primary ballot where McLaughlin can get write-in votes, and Meyer's campaign successfully knocked McLaughlin off the Independence line, so he gets that spot on the November ballot. In 2014, McLaughlin won a write-in campaign for the Independence line, that led to a general election victory for Assembly. Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Albany Times Union