Washington's widely watched U.S. Senate race, potentially pivotal as both parties scrap coast-to-coast for supremacy, moves into high gear Tuesday when voters pick the finalists.

Primary voters in Washington will settle at least two hotly contested state Supreme Court races in Tuesday's election.

The races have attracted a deluge of special-interest money and a spate of negative television commercials. The chief justice and at least one colleague are on the ropes.

High court races, often sleepy affairs, have drawn unusually heavy spending and attention this year, as homebuilders and others try to oust justices and install their favorites.

At least two of the three races will be decided in the primary because a candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the vote advances alone to the November ballot.

Chief Justice Gerry Alexander could see his 33-year judicial career ended by Bellevue property-rights attorney John Groen. The chief is being outspent 3 to 1 -- $1.6 million versus about $530,000. Groen and his backers have spent over $1 million on television ads, criticizing Alexander's age (70), supposed legislating from the bench, support of a colleague who was pulled over for drunken driving and the court's ruling that briefly ended the practice of prosecutors lodging murder charges when an assault turns deadly.

Alexander and his backers have answered each point, but couldn't begin to match the advertising blitz.

Justice Tom Chambers, less pressed by opposition groups, is favored over Jeanette Burrage, a former conservative state House member and King County Superior Court judge.

The third race, Justice Susan Owens faces four challengers. She and state Sen. Stephen Johnson, R-Kent, are widely expected to advance to the November finals.

Observers and groups on both sides have set up Web sites to give people information and analysis on the races.

Here is the state's online voter's pamphlet:

vote.wa.gov

These Web sites provide information on state Supreme Court candidates. Each is sponsored by organizations that bring their own point of view to the race.

votingforjudges.org

faithandfreedom.us [pdf file]

soundthealarm.com [pdf file]