• New York State Senator George Amedore speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony at for the largest Supercharger in the Northeast at Crossgates Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 in Guilderland, N.Y. Senator Amedore and others addressed the economic benefits of Tesla's investment in the Capital Region and the environmental benefits of expanding New Yorkers' access to zero-emissions vehicles. Will Nichols, senior policy manager for Tesla, listens at left. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) Photo: Lori Van Buren / 20041432A
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New York State Senator George Amedore speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony at for the largest Supercharger in the Northeast at Crossgates Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 in Guilderland, N.Y. Senator Amedore and others addressed the economic benefits of Tesla's investment in the Capital Region and the environmental benefits of expanding New Yorkers' access to zero-emissions vehicles. Will Nichols, senior policy manager for Tesla, listens at left. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) less
New York State Senator George Amedore speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony at for the largest Supercharger in the Northeast at Crossgates Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 in Guilderland, N.Y. Senator Amedore ... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren
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Republican state Sen. George Amedore of Rotterdam, who represents a swing state Senate district likely to be competitive in 2018, has attracted a Democratic challenger with strong support already from local party officials.

Pat Strong, a Kingston business owner, told the Times Union Wednesday that she would run for the seat, which includes all of Greene and Montgomery counties, and parts of Albany, Schenectady and Ulster counties.

Strong said she would focus her campaign on taxes, jobs, health care and education.

"This November, we'll be weighing in on issues that affect our daily lives, based on who we choose to represent us," Strong said in a statement. "As a business owner and parent, I'm concerned about the direction our nation is heading in. We need to make our schools and public spaces safer; counter the unfairness of the federal tax cuts, make health care a human right, push for more green jobs, support manufacturing, small businesses and family farms, and tackle the structural funding problems of our public schools"

Strong's press release included supportive statements about her candidacy from Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach, as well as endorsements from several area Democratic Party officials. Strong said she will be officially kicking off her campaign on Friday in Kingston.

Jeff Collins, who had said he'd run against Amedore, said he is withdrawing and endorsing Strong.

Strong's business provides technical assistance and energy education to local governments, homeowners and businesses, she said, and her clients include the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Capital District Regional Planning Commission and several engineering firms and colleges. She is the founder of the Made In Kingston arts expo and co-founded the Business Alliance of Kingston.

Amedore's district was created by Senate Republicans during the 2011 round of redistricting to create a 63rd state Senate seat, but Amedore (then a Republican assemblyman) surprisingly lost in 2012 to Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk. In a 2014 rematch, however, Amedore captured the seat and won again in 2016 by a wide margin.