Nika Lomazzo, a transgender woman, plans to challenge State Rep. John Lombardi, a longtime Providence politician who first won his seat representing District 8 in 2012. Some 14,000 people live in the district, which encompasses Federal Hill, Olneyville and Valley neighborhoods. She would be the first openly transgender person to serve in Rhode Island government.

"I had this really weird feeling in my stomach and said ‘Ok self what’s going on?’” said Lomazzo, 22. “I thought....why am I so excited for these people when I could be doing this for my own community?”