Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the Governor

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Some 5.7 million New Yorkers will be watching a set of critical elections from the sidelines Thursday as a series of Democratic primary contests potentially reshape that party and reorient the state. A key question is how many of the 5.6 registered Democrats in the state show up to participate.

While Reform Party and Republicans in a few districts have legislative primaries to decide, the action is almost entirely blue, with nomination contests for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and multiple state Senate seats, we well as a smattering of nominations for Assembly seats, judicial posts, and party positions. There is a race for surrogate on Staten Island.

On Wednesday’s Max & Murphy, Ben Max and I broke down the top contests and what’s at stake and spoke with Jill Jorgensen, the Daily News City Hall bureau chief about Mayor de Blasio’s role (or lack thereof) on the primary scene. We also heard from voters backing Cynthia Nixon and Andrew Cuomo.

Tune into WBAI Thursday from 9-11 as I anchor primary night coverage there.