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Former U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro is planning to leave his position in the Trump administration to pursue a seat in the New York State Assembly, according to multiple sources.
Molinaro, who currently serves as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, announced on social media that his last day in the federal role will be Friday, February 20. The Republican stated he's "coming home to be closer to my family and get back into the fight," adding that "New York is being run into the ground."
Sources familiar with Molinaro's plans indicate he is eyeing the 102nd Assembly District seat being vacated by Assemblyman Chris Tague, who is running for the 51st Senate District. The Assembly district covers all of Greene and Schoharie counties, as well as portions of Delaware, Albany, Otsego, and Ulster counties.
This potential move would mark a return to the state legislature for Molinaro, who previously served in the Assembly from 2006 to 2011 representing the 103rd district.
Molinaro has had a lengthy political career spanning multiple levels of government. At just 18 years old, he was appointed to the Tivoli Village Board in 1994 and elected mayor of Tivoli the following year, becoming the youngest mayor in America at the time. He went on to serve as Dutchess County Executive for three terms before being elected to Congress in 2022, representing New York's 19th Congressional District.
After losing his congressional reelection bid to Democrat Josh Riley in 2024, President Donald Trump appointed Molinaro to lead the Federal Transit Administration. The U.S. Senate confirmed him for this position in August 2025.
When contacted by Mid-Hudson News, Molinaro indicated he would be making an official statement about his future plans in the coming days.
The timing of Molinaro's departure from the Trump administration and his interest in returning to New York politics comes as several political seats are opening up in the region, creating a potential opportunity for his return to elected office.