The primaries are just a few weeks away, and with the presidential candidates beginning to raise their big top in the commonwealth, it's easy to overlook the races right here in our own districts' backyard.

The federal government may seem to corner the market on campaigning with news conferences, social media and circuslike televised debates, but here there has been plenty of political posturing, platitudes and maneuvering that parallels the presidential primary competition.Major issues in Pennsylvania have included 267 days without a budget, pension plan reform, school funding and of course the heroin epidemic that has touched every small town with tragedies of overdosing.For the 122nd Carbon County district, it has been typical par-for-the course campaigning. Both Republican and Democratic candidates are running unopposed on the primary ballots. To secure a place on the ballot, candidates must collect signatures from a specified number of people registered in their district and party. For the state's General Assembly, 300 signatures are required to get names on ballots.It's Republican incumbent Doyle Heffley versus Democratic challenger Neil Makhija in the district.A court challenge was waged against Makhija's residence in the coal region.According to qualification rules, representatives must be 21 years of age and have been residents and inhabitants of their respective districts one year before their election.An argument that Makhija was not a valid resident due to his time in Harvard Law School was rejected by the President Judge of Commonwealth Court leaving Makhija on the ballot and giving the voters a choice in the general election.A suit challenging Heffley's petition signatures was filed in the Commonwealth court in February. The suit was withdrawn before its day in court.Next door in the Lehigh District 183, an entirely different kind of primary is taking place. Current Republican Rep. Julie Harhart is retiring after 11 terms.The retirement leaves the office vacant, making it anyone's race. This district's primary has also been fraught with petition challenges and dropouts.Two candidates, Marc Grammes and Terri Powell, were challenged in March. Both have been removed from the ballot due to judges' rulings against them.In Grammes case, removal was caused by a failure to file financial statements for review by the Ethics Commission. He plans to appeal the decision while Powell was ruled against due to failing to include her legislative district's number, political party and primary year information on her petition. Both candidates had previously run in the 2014 election year and lost.This leaves Cindy Miller and Zachary Mako on the Republican ticket and Phillips Armstrong unopposed for the Democrats.Currently the Republican Party holds the majority in the state House.Primary elections will take placeApril 26 followed by general elections Nov. 8.