DOVER — Democratic Congressional candidate Lisa Blunt Rochester announced Tuesday she officially has filed for the office and chosen a finance team.

Lisa Blunt Rochester, candidate for U.S. House (submitted)

One of five Democrats running for the open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ms. Blunt Rochester previously served as secretary of labor and state personnel director.

“I’ve never been on the ballot before,” she said in a statement. “And when I think about why I’m running for public office now, it’s simple: I want to bring people together, find common ground and help people change their lives and their community.”

Her finance team includes Wilmington Education Advisory Committee head Tony Allen, Wilmington Sen. Margaret Rose Henry and former Family Court Chief Judge Chandlee J. Kuhn.

If elected, Ms. Blunt Rochester points out she would be both the first woman and the first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress.

She is competing against Newark Sen. Bryan Townsend, Arden Rep. Bryon Short, 2014 treasurer nominee Sean Barney and Mike Miller on the Democratic side. Former Wyoming Mayor Hans Reigle and 2014 House nominee Rose Izzo are running for the Republican nod.