All eyes are on the presidential and congressional election races next month, but there's plenty at stake locally.

The entire New York State Legislature is up for reelection, and next year's session is expected to be critical for New Yorkers. Lawmakers are already planning to address the future of congestion pricing, a housing plan and a new formula to doll out state aid for public school education in 2025.

Democrats are hoping to hold onto the party's veto-proof supermajority that has led them to pass several pieces of significant legislation over the last few years.

Here are the races we're watching (incumbents in italics):

District 35: State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) vs. Khristen Kerr (R)

Stewart-Cousins, who is one of the most powerful politicians in all of New York, is the heavy favorite to hold onto her seat, but this is a 2022 rematch where Kerr took 35% of the vote.

District 37: State Sen. Shelley Mayer (D) vs. Tricia Lindsay (R)

Education is at the center of this race between Mayer and Lindsay. Mayer chairs the state Senate committee on education and is front and center in the fight to fix the way the state doles out funding for public school education. Lindsay, who was on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s shortlist as a potential vice presidential candidate, supports more parental rights in schools.

District 38: State Sen. Bill Weber (R) vs. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D)

This is the third straight election cycle these two candidates will face off. Reichlin-Melnick won the seat in 2020 but lost it two years ago to Weber, who hopes to retain it this time around. There are several issues facing this Rockland County district, including the East Ramapo Central School District, overdevelopment and public transit.

District 39: State Sen. Rob Rolison (R) vs. Yvette Valdes Smith (D)

Rolison is seeking a second term after winning a close election in 2022 (53% to 47%). The former Poughkeepsie mayor is being challenged by Smith, who is the minority leader of the Dutchess County Legislature.

District 40: State Sen. Pete Harckham (D) vs. Gina Arena (R)

This is a rematch from 2022 in a race where Harckham beat Arena by roughly 8,500 votes. This is a seat that Republicans have targeted since Harckham flipped it from red to blue in 2018.

District 42: State Sen. James Skoufis (D) vs. Dorey Houle (R)

This is another rematch from two years ago when Skoufis narrowly beat Houle by roughly 1,500 votes. Houle wants another shot at the seat because she said she's fed up with broken promises from Albany politicians. Skoufis has made himself into a watchdog who has sought to crack down on political corruption.

District 90: Assembly Member Nader Sayegh (D) vs. John Isaac (R)

A battle of Yonkers between the incumbent Sayegh, who was the first Jordanian American elected to the Legislature, and businessman Isaac, who would be the first Indian American elected to this district. The district includes one of New York's largest school districts.

District 92: Assembly Member MaryJane Shimsky (D) vs. Alessandro Crocco (R)

Following a tough primary race, Working Families Party-backed candidate Shimsky is looking to win a second term in the state Legislature against businessman Crocco. Both candidates oppose Edgemont's petition to leave Greenburgh and incorporate as its own village. New York's Equal Rights Amendment, which Shimsky supports and Crocco opposes, is also front and center in this race.

District 94: Assembly Member Matt Slater (R) vs. Zachary Couzens (D)

Slater is looking to secure his second term in the Legislature but faces a challenge from Couzens who looks to be one of the youngest members of the Legislature at just 21 years old. Couzens, a Mahopac resident, spends his weekdays as a senior at Boston College and his weekends campaigning in the district. Slater believes his experience in office will propel him back to Albany, where he has served as a checks-and-balance politician in the Democrat-led state house.

District 96: Patrick Carroll (D) vs. Ronny Diz (R)

This seat is an open race after nine-term state Assembly Member Ken Zebrowski shockingly announced his decision not to seek reelection earlier this year. Carroll is a Clarkstown town councilman while Diz is a former New York City police officer.

District 97: Assembly Member John McGowan (R) vs. Aron Wieder (D)

McGowan is hoping to keep this seat red but is facing a challenge from an unusual campaign. McGowan lost the Conservative line primary to Thomas Sullivan, who has had no public presence at all. That could play a role in the outcome of the race as Democratic Rockland Legislator Aron Wieder hopes to get to Albany.

99th District: Assembly Member Christopher Eachus (D) vs. Tom Lapolla (R)

Two years ago, the race for this seat was far too close for comfort for Eachus, who beat Republican Kathryn Luciani by just eight votes. The Democrat has another tough challenge, this time against Republican Lapolla, a retired firefighter.

District 100: Paula Kay (D) vs. Louis Ingrassia

This is another open Hudson Valley seat after longtime Assembly Member Aileen Gunther announced her plans to retire at the end of this year. Kay, an attorney and former legislative staffer in Gunther's office, hopes to keep the seat blue. Ingrassia, the Town of Wallkill public works commissioner, sees a chance to bring an infrastructure-first approach to the district.