TAMPA, Fla. -- An open governor's race with multiple candidates on both sides, some hard fought local races and the current polarizing political climate are at the center of the crucial midterm primary.

Florida voters have already turned out in big numbers for early voting, while tens of thousands more will head to the polls today.

The state will pick a new governor and attorney general for the first time in almost a decade.

The race for the governor's mansion is a crowded and contentious one. Eight Republican candidates are vying for the office. Current Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis are among the biggest names in the field.

Seven candidates are in the running on the Democratic ticket, including mayors, developers, a former congresswoman and former governor's daughter wanting to fill the state's top office.

Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has rallied for Democrat Andrew Gillum. The mayors of Tampa and Orlando have backed Gwen Graham.

Meanwhile, the courts have gotten involved in the race to replace Pam Bondi as attorney general. On Friday, Democratic candidate Ryan Torrens was accused of using an illegal campaign contribution.

Opponent Sean Shaw sued to take Torrens off the ballot, and a judge agreed. However, on Monday, Torrens said the 1st District Court of Appeals in Florida stayed the ruling. So Torrens is still on the ballot for Tuesday.

On the Republican side of the AG race are Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody and Frank White, CFO and general counsel for automotive company Sansing Dealer Group.

One of the most watched congressional races figures to be District 9, with incumbent Darren Soto and former Rep. Alan Grayson facing off.

The two Democrats debated on Spectrum News in August, with affordable housing and Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference among the topics.

In Hillsborough County, a number of county commission races are at stake, along with four school board seats and three county court judges.

As of Friday, about 115,000 ballots had been cast in Hillsborough County either by mail or at early voting locations. The final number could surpass the 128,000 early votes in the entire 2014 election.

Craig Latimer, the Hillsborough County supervisor of elections, said a bigger percentage of registered voters are casting ballots.

"We've actually increased voters since 2014 by a little over 10 percent. We've already surpassed the early vote and vote by mail by way more than 10 percent," he said. "So we are certainly ahead of 2014 if you are comparing them heads up."

In Pinellas County, four school board seats are up for grabs.

And in Manatee, Hernando, Citrus and Polk counties, a number of candidates are vying for commission and school board posts.