(05-07) 17:51 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP) --

Term limits have turned some former political allies into campaign foes as voters prepare to select nominees for 100 seats in the California Legislature.

In a half dozen races on the June 3 primary ballot, former lawmakers are trying to revive political careers that were at least temporarily interrupted by term limits.

Standing in their way are sitting lawmakers from their political party who are either running for re-election or trying to extend their terms by moving to the other house.

This year's primary election battles also feature six other races in which candidates are trying to follow in the footsteps of family members or former family members and win legislative seats.

Party nominations for all 80 Assembly seats and 20 of the 40 state Senate seats will be at stake when voters go to the polls next month.

Voters in the 12th Senate District, which stretches from the San Joaquin Valley almost to Monterey Bay, also will decide whether to recall Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced. On Wednesday, however, Democratic leaders abandoned their campaign against Denham less than three weeks before the election.

Democrats launched the recall drive after Denham refused to cast a deadlock-breaking vote last year for the state budget.

Even if the active campaign against Denham is abandoned, the recall question will remain on the ballot in his district. If it's successful, it would leave Democrats in the Senate just one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass budgets, tax increases and emergency legislation, and to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Former Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, is running to replace Denham if voters decide to recall him.

Democrats in the Assembly still would need the votes of at least six Republicans to reach the two-thirds threshold.

For most voters, the legislative primaries will be ho-hum affairs featuring candidates running unopposed for their party nominations. Only about a third of the 100 districts have contested races, and in most cases they involve only one party.

More than a dozen campaigns are shaping up as hotly contested, big-spending affairs with money pouring in from corporations, labor unions, Indian tribes, doctors and other special interests.

The primaries sometimes give those groups a better chance to shape the Legislature's makeup than the general election because only a handful of districts are competitive in the fall. That's because state lawmakers draw their own political boundaries, a system Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Common Cause and others hope to change by placing a redistricting measure on the November ballot.

They say the current system represents a conflict of interest.

The importance of party primary races has led business groups to intervene in Democratic contests in support of the most conservative candidate and teachers and other labor groups to venture into Republican races looking for moderates to back.

This year is likely to be no exception.

"I think the stakes for business in this election are very high, and you will see an active effort from the business community to go out and help Democrats who both understand business issues and will help to build the economy for the future of California," said Rob Lapsley, executive director of JOBSPAC, a California Chamber of Commerce campaign committee.

Here are some of the key state legislative races on the June ballot:

MIDGEN-LENO-NATION: Sen. Carole Midgen, D-San Francisco, is one of only six lawmakers running for re-election who face opposition on June 3, and she's probably the most vulnerable. Assemblyman Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat who will be termed out of the Assembly in December, and former Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael, also are seeking the Democratic nomination. Migden's bid for a second term may have been hurt by a record fine for campaign finance violations and a well-publicized, wild ride on Interstate 80 that ended with her hitting another car.

CHAN-HANCOCK: The Senate's top leader, Democrat Don Perata of Oakland, is being forced out of office by term limits. Running for the Democratic nomination to succeed him are Assemblywoman Loni Hancock of Berkeley and former Assemblywoman Wilma Chan of Alameda.

LEVINE-PAVLEY: Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, is trying to stave off term limits by running for the Senate seat now held by fellow Democrat Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica, another victim of term limits. Former Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, also is seeking the Democratic nomination.

DYMALLY-WRIGHT: Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, is trying to return to the state Senate — 34 years after he left the chamber to become lieutenant governor and then a member of Congress. Opposing him for the Democratic nomination are former Assemblyman Rod Wright, D-Los Angeles; Kevin Biggers, a former aide to former Gov. Gray Davis; and Donald Dear, a former mayor of Gardena. The incumbent, Sen. Ed Vincent, D-Inglewood, will be termed out in December.

HUFF-MOUNTJOY: Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, and former Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, R-Monrovia, are seeking the Senate seat being given up by termed-out Sen. Bob Margett, R-Arcadia.

BENOIT-BOGH: Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, is another term-limits victim. Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Riverside, and former Assemblyman Russ Bogh, R-Beaumont, are battling to succeed him. David Peters, a member of the Hemet Unified School District board is the third Republican candidate.

NIELSEN VS. THE COLONELS: Former Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Woodland, is trying to make a comeback, 18 years after he lost a bid for re-election. This time he's running for the Assembly. Also seeking the GOP nomination are Charles Schaupp, a farmer and lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves; Peter Stiglich, a rancher and retired Air Force colonel; and John Martinez, a former news reporter. The incumbent, Assemblyman Doug La Malfa, R-Willows, will be termed out in December.

PAPAN-HILL-HOLOBER: The late Lou Papan, D-Daly City, spent 20 years in the Assembly, a hard-nosed politician who was nicknamed "The Enforcer" for his role as a key lieutenant to the speaker. Now his daughter, Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan, is making a second bid for the seat her father once held. Also running for the Democratic nomination to succeed termed-out Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco, are San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill and Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California and a member of the San Mateo County Community College District board.

MAZE-CONWAY-SMITH-ZELLHOEFER: Rebecca Maze is trying to keep an Assembly seat in the family. Her husband, Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, will be termed out in December. Challenging Rebecca Maze for the GOP nomination are Connie Conway, a Tulare County supervisor; Bob Smith, a retired San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy; and Jon Zellhoefer, a member of the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District board.

LOWENTHAL-URANGA: Two members of the Long Beach City Council, Bonnie Lowenthal and Tonia Uranga, are running for the Democratic nomination to succeed termed-out Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, D-Long Beach. Lowenthal has the support of her ex-husband, Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach.

AYALA-AVILA-TORRES-WHITE: Maurice Ayala is trying to follow in his father's footsteps. Ruben Ayala spent 24 years in the state Senate. Paul Avila, a member of the Ontario-Montclair school board; Kenneth White, a college instructor and attorney; and Pomona Mayor Norma Torres also are running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Assemblywoman Nell Soto, who is not seeking re-election.

NESTANDE-MCCARTHY: Brian Nestande also is trying to emulate his father. Bruce Nestande spent six years in the Assembly and six more on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Also running for the Republican nomination to replace Benoit is Kelly McCarty, owner of an Ontario auto repair business.

KNIGHT-LEDFORD-FOX: Palmdale City Councilman Stephen Knight, son of the late Sen. Pete Knight, R-Palmdale, is one of three candidates running for the GOP nomination to succeed termed-out Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster. Palmdale Mayor James Ledford Jr. and Steve Fox, an attorney and a member of the Antelope Valley College District board, also are on the GOP ballot.

A couple of other lawmaker relatives are running unopposed June 3.

Republican William Berryhill, the brother of Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, and the son of the late Sen. Clare Berryhill, R-Ceres, is seeking the seat held by termed out Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton.

Democrat Fran Florez, the mother of Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, is running for the seat held by another term-limits victim, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford.