The challenger for the 55th District seat is Democrat Rachel Levy, who lives in Ashland with her husband and their three children. The 48-year-old school teacher, the daughter of civil rights attorneys, champions herself as a “nationally recognized public education advocate.” On her campaign website, Levy says she is running in the Nov. 2 election because the district “deserves independent-minded, principled, service-oriented, and competent representation” for everyone