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Marc Molinaro, a former Dutchess County executive, state assemblyman, and most recently the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under President Trump, has officially entered the race for the New York State Assembly's 102nd District.
According to Mid-Hudson News, Molinaro announced his candidacy on Monday (February 23), seeking to fill the seat being vacated by fellow Republican Chris Tague. The 102nd District covers portions of Ulster, Otsego, Albany, and Delaware counties, as well as all of Greene and Schoharie counties.
Molinaro is no stranger to New York politics. He made history as the youngest mayor in the country when he was elected mayor of Tivoli at 19 years old. He went on to serve in the Dutchess County Legislature, the New York State Assembly, and as Dutchess County Executive. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully for governor against Andrew Cuomo. Most recently, he served one term in Congress representing New York's 19th Congressional District before losing his re-election bid to Josh Riley in 2024. President Trump then appointed him to lead the FTA.
In a statement announcing his run, Molinaro said, "While I was working to move America forward, I was watching what was happening in New York. Progressive special interests and incompetent far-left politicians like Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani now have a stronghold on our state — making it more expensive and less safe."
Molinaro added that he wants to return to Albany "to fill the void of sensible leadership, help like-minded Republicans win, and give ordinary New Yorkers a voice in Albany."
The announcement comes after earlier reports from Mid-Hudson News indicated that Molinaro had been exploring a run for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District, a seat left open after Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced she would not seek re-election. That potential bid drew sharp criticism from former Conservative state Assemblyman Kieran Lalor, who accused Molinaro on social media of being a "self-serving and self-absorbed career politician" looking to "carpetbag to another seat."
If Molinaro wins the 102nd District seat in November, he will serve as a member of the political minority, as Democrats currently hold a firm grip on New York state government.