News Blog

If you go by the rumors, WROC anchor Rachel Barnhart plans to challenge Democratic Assembly member Harry Bronson for his seat.  And that fact that tomorrow is her last day at the station makes the scenario more likely.

Barnhart announced her departure this afternoon in Twitter and Facebook posts; her contract with WROC was set to expire at the end of this month, anyway.  The Twitter post was brief, but the Facebook message mentioned a forthcoming announcement of some sort. 

"I'm not giving up the fight to give you a voice and make Rochester a better place," she wrote in her post, which is embedded below. "My heart is telling me it's time to make a difference in a different way. I'll have more on future plans in the coming days."

Candidates can start petitioning for ballot lines on June 7, and the signatures they collect must be filed with the Board of Elections between July 11 and 14. Some in political circles expect an announcement from Barnhart this weekend, though she says she hasn't set a date to announce her "future plans."

Bronson was first elected to the Assembly in 2010 and, for the third time, he faces a challenge from Republican Peter Vazquez, who lives in Henrietta.