Rachel Barnhart Announces Run For Rochester City Council
Written by Tariq on July 21, 2026
Legislator Rachel Barnhart announced Monday she is running for Rochester City Council and will not seek reelection to the Monroe County Legislature. She said Councilmember Mary Lupien has decided not to run for reelection, and “is trusting me to carry the work forward.” Barnhart, a former journalist at 13WHAM and WROC-TV, was elected to the Monroe County Legislature in 2019 as a Democrat. She previously ran for New York State Assembly (2016), Rochester mayor (2017) and the U.S. House of Representatives (2018).
“My time on the Monroe County Legislature shows the kind of representative I would be on Council,” Barnhart said in a Facebook post. “I never give up asking questions, finding solutions and advocating for for my constituents. When something is wrong, I speak up. Then I get to work.”
“Although the Democratic Primary election is not until June 2027, we cannot afford to wait to get started,” she continued. “Keeping this seat independent and progressive will take all of us.”
Lupien was elected to City Council in 2020. She ran for mayor in 2025 but lost the Democratic primary to incumbent Malik Evans. In a statement, she said she will not seek reelection when her term ends at the end of 2027 and endorsed Barnhart to succeed her. “It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of the East District,” Lupien said. “Together, we’ve shown that when we invest in people, we build a safer, healthier, and more compassionate city. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I’m confident Rachel Barnhart will continue that work.”
Source: 13WHAM-TV
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