ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Jen Lunsford is the Democrat candidate set to challenge state Sen. Rich Funke, the Republican incumbent and longtime Rochester news anchor.

Lunsford is currently an attorney at Segar & Sciortino and an activist.

"I've worked up close with families in crisis, with women who are escaping domestic violence with their children, with transgender people who are concerned of a violent backlash for something like reporting that they change their name," Lunsford said.

She lives in Penfield with her husband Scott and their young son, Mack. Lunsford said that gives her a perspective vastly underrepresented in the state Senate.

"There are 63 state senators in New York. Only 14 of them are women and of those 14 women, almost none have young children."

The 55th District represents the east side of the city of Rochester as well as eastern portions of Monroe County and western parts of Ontario County. Since his election in 2014, Funke has represented the district despite a Democratic enollment advantage of roughly 20,000 voters.

"When you think about Monroe County today in terms of the percentage of Democrats that are registered in the 55th District, it's Democrats and so therefore that suggests that who's leading us in that area should be a Democrat," said Town Board Member Kevin Beckford, D-Pittsford.

A statement from Funke reads:

“I remain focused on my job as your State Senator. In my three plus years in the Senate, I’ve delivered on my promise to ensure our region gets its fair share, which includes record school aid, lowering middle class taxes, enacting equal pay for women, and supporting a better business environment while protecting the rights of workers.  These accomplishments are why keeping the Republican majority in the state Senate is vital to our area.  While I encourage competition, it cannot be overstated that no upstate elected Democrat in the Senate will truly represent the interests of Rochester and the Finger Lakes area over downstate interests, and come this fall, I believe the voters will agree.”