State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle has formally announced his candidacy for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Louise Slaughter.
The Irondequoit Democrat has served in the New York Assembly since 1990 and is a past chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee. That gives him immediate access to a political organization that can help him file the 1,250 signatures needed to get on the ballot by the April 12th deadline.
Morelle made his announcement this morning flanked by fellow Assemblyman Harry Bronson, County Clerk Adam Bello and Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, all of whom had been mentioned as possible candidates to take up Congresswoman Slaughter’s legacy. Today they threw their support behind Morelle, with Mayor Warren saying he’s the one to unite the fractured Democratic party.
Morelle said he would fight against gun violence and for better economic opportunities for working families.
If Morelle gets the nomination he’ll likely face Republican James Maxwell, a neurosurgeon who is seeking that party’s nomination.
Other Rochester-area Democrats interested in running for the 25th District seat include Brighton Town Board member Robin Reynolds Wilt, who has not formally declared her candidacy but is raising money for a campaign and is about to begin collecting signatures. She’s a real estate broker in Brighton and ran an unsuccessful State Senate campaign against Joe Robach in 2010.
Former Rochester Mayoral Candidate Rachel Barnhart and political newcomer Andrew Gilchrist are walking petitions seeking the Democratic nomination as well. Barnhart said by Twitter that the Democratic leadership is trying to make sure every other potential Democratic candidate gets steamrollered.
Rochester Deputy Mayor Cedric Alexander was reportedly interested, but decided not to run.