Your cheat sheet for primary day

Tuesday is primary day, that momentous occasion when we come together and vote — or, less grandly, when we pick the people we most want to vote for again later on.

Here is what we know so far and what we can predict about Tuesday’s results.

What do the polls say?

The race for attorney general may well be the most hotly contested this primary day. While the latest Globe poll has Maura Healey ahead of Warren Tolman by 16 points, a broader look across all recent polls suggests a tighter finish.

The race for treasurer is also close, and with as many as 50 percent of voters still undecided that contest is especially unpredictable.

When it comes to governor, there are clear frontrunners on both sides. Martha Coakley leads the Democratic pack by over 20 points and Charlie Baker is up by as many as 50 points.

What are the differences between candidates?

One way to tease out the differences between the candidates is to look at the words they use. The word Coakley uses most in the “issues” section of her website is “workers.” For Steve Grossman, it’s “business,” and for Don Berwick, “health.” Here’s a fuller analysis.

How big a role has money played?

Money is important, but it’s no guarantee of victory. Grossman and Coakley spent virtually the same amount, yet Coakley has maintained a significant advantage throughout.

It’s worth remembering, too, that the relationship between money and votes flows in both directions. More money can help candidates buy ads and reach voters, but candidates who connect with voters also have the easiest time raising money.

Will it all come down to turnout?

The last time the Democrats had a competitive primary for governor was 2006. And despite the hard-fought nature of the contest and the “star is born” narrative around Deval Patrick, only 25 percent of registered voters showed up.

Overall turnout could be even lower this year. That's what the secretary of state has said, and it’s what Internet traffic suggests. Whereas in the past, Google searches for “governor” and “Democratic primary” rose before primary day, this year’s upswing is less pronounced.

Governor

Democratic primary

Come Tuesday evening, we’ll know for whom people voted, who turned up to vote, whether there were any surprising last-minute swings, and whether the polls we have been following for months — and which are summarized int the table below — were missing any big changes in the electoral landscape.

	Latest poll	Recent average
Governor (D)
Martha Coakley	41	46
Steve Grossman	20	24
Don Berwick	12	11
Undecided	14	18
Governor (R)
Charlie Baker	59	65
Mark Fisher	7	9
Attorney General (D)
Maura Healey	45	33
Warren Tolman	29	32
Undecided	26	35
Treasurer (D)
Barry Finegold	23	16
Deborah Goldberg	18	16
Thomas Conroy	15	10
Undecided	44	58

Source: Mass. Numbers