PHOTOS: Tea Party Candidates Night

As the 2012 election heads into prime time, conservatives in the area are gearing up.

The Merrimack Valley Tea Party held a Candidates Night Wednesday at the VFW in North Andover.

"We only have 82 days left before the election," Ted Tripp said. "And this is going to be a historic election."

The purpose of the event was not only to allow candidates to speak about their plans for office but also to raise money for them. There were donations accepted as well as t-shirts for sale.

One major theme of the candidates' speeches was a call for balance on Beacon Hill. The Democrats hold a supermajority in both the House and Senate, controlling about 80 percent in the House and about 90 percent in the Senate.

Check out these photos of the candidates as well as some highlights from their speeches.