ALBANY – The state Republican Party is turning to an Amedure to replace an Amedore in the 46th state Senate District.

Rich Amedure, a veteran and retired state trooper, officially launched his campaign for the district Friday after months of speculation over who the GOP would put up for the seat. Two Democrats have been campaigning for months to flip the seat currently held by state Sen. George Amedore, R-Rotterdam: Michelle Hinchey, the daughter of late Congressman Maurice Hinchey, and child victims advocate Gary Greenberg.

Both Hinchey and Greenberg are collecting petitions for the June primary election, but Hinchey has both a significant fundraising advantage and the support of each Democratic committee in the five counties represented by the seat.

Amedure, 55, has lived in Rensselaerville for about 25 years, where he owns a small farm and serves as the town's Planning Board chairman. He recently retired as a state trooper – a job he held for nearly three decades after returning from active duty in the Army in the late 1980s. He had also served as the first vice president of the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association.

"I feel the state has been on the wrong path, when you have the government dominated by one party from one part of the state," Amedure said.

His top priorities include rolling back the state's controversial criminal justice reform, which he said has been "devastating" since its implementation on Jan. 1. Republicans have contended the law, which eliminated the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, has released dangerous criminals into society. Public support for the reform has plummeted – a shift that supporters of the law have blamed on misinformation and fearmongering.

"Bail reform has made every citizen of upstate New York less safe – there's just no denying it," Amedure said.

He also hopes to promote the farm industry and bolster the economies of small towns and communities. Amedure has been endorsed by each of the GOP committees in the five counties represented by the district: Albany, Greene, Schenectady, Montgomery and Ulster.

And, yes, in case you were wondering – he is distantly related to the retiring Amedore, several generations up. Their ancestors hail from the same area of Italy.

Both Democratic candidates, meanwhile, promoted their own campaigns at the news of a GOP contest. The district is largely considered a "purple" area, and competition for the seat is expected to be fierce this fall.

"Since I started my campaign, I've been meeting and listening to constituents around the 46th District about the issues that matter most to them and their families," Hinchey said in an email. "It's clear they want and deserve a voice that will represent all residents, not just political extremes. I look forward to being an advocate for the region where I was born and raised and a strong upstate representative in the majority caucus to make sure our district gets our fair share."

Greenberg has previously criticized Hinchey as inexperienced and touted his advocacy work that helped two high-profile bills for survivors of sexual abuse pass during last year's legislative session. He had the same critique of his GOP opponent.

"Amedure also has no legislative experience and no record," Greenberg said. "We cannot afford to send a senator to Albany that needs a training, period. Since I helped elect senators and supported the new majority leader, I will hit the ground running full throttle."