Rachel Barnhart officially kicked off her campaign on Sunday for the 138th district Assembly Seat. Since she is running as a Democrat, she would need to defeat incumbent Harry Bronson in a primary.
Barnhart says she has always been independent-minded as a reporter, and she would expect to bring that spirit to Albany.
"One person can make a difference, it starts with one, then two, then five, then 15, then all 150 members of the New York State Assembly . And if I don't succeed, at least I will have done more than those who remain silent in the face of a corrupt and broken system."
She says even if she gets elected to Albany as an outsider, she's ready for that.
"I think that when you do what's right, you have to take the consequences and if the consequences are, 'oh, she can't get anything done,' it starts with one person. And does that mean we shouldn't try, if you're working against the machine, does that mean someone shouldn't stand up and try? I believe we can try."
Bronson kicked off his re-election campaign last month. He has the backing of the Monroe County Democratic Committee and Mayor Lovely Warren has also endorsed him.
There may also be a primary on the Republican side for that Assembly District which includes parts of Rochester, Henrietta and Chili. Peter Vazquez and Robert Zinck have also announced plans to run.
