Marc Molinaro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration | |
Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Nuria I. Fernandez |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's19th district | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Ryan (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Josh Riley |
| County Executive ofDutchess County | |
| In office January 1, 2012 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | William Steinhaus |
| Succeeded by | William O'Neil |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the103rd district | |
| In office January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Manning |
| Succeeded by | Didi Barrett |
| Member of theDutchess County Legislature | |
| In office January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Frances Mark |
| Succeeded by | David Seymour |
| Mayor ofTivoli | |
| In office 1995–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Neese |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Cordier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-10-08)October 8, 1975 (age 49) Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Christy (divorced) Corinne Adams |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Dutchess Community College (AS) |
| Website | House website |
Marcus James Molinaro (/moʊlɪˈnɛəroʊ/moh-lin-AIR-oh; born October 8, 1975)[1] is an American politician who served as theU.S. representative forNew York's 19th congressional district from 2023 to 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, Molinaro was a member of the Dutchess County Legislature and theNew York State Assembly before being elected county executive ofDutchess County, New York in 2011.[2] He was reelected county executive in 2015 and 2019. Molinaro is also a former mayor ofTivoli; when he became mayor at age 19, he was the youngest mayor in the United States at that time.[3] Molinaro was the Republican nominee forgovernor of New York in2018, losing toDemocratic incumbentAndrew Cuomo.
On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced that he would run forNew York's 19th district in theUnited States House of Representatives in2022.[4] In thespecial election held on August 23, 2022, Molinaro lost to Democratic nomineePat Ryan, theUlster County executive, 51.2% to 48.8%. Molinaro was the Republican nominee for the same seat in theNovember 2022 general election, this time defeating Democratic nomineeJosh Riley under new district lines. Ryan, who defeated Molinaro in August, was also elected to a full term simultaneously in a neighboring district. Riley defeated Molinaro in a rematch in 2024.
Molinaro was born inYonkers, New York,[5] to Anthony Molinaro[6] and Dona Vananden.[7] After his parents' divorce, he and his mother moved toBeacon, New York, in 1980,[8][5] and toTivoli, New York, in 1989.[5] Molinaro's mother struggled financially, and the family receivedfood stamps.[8] Molinaro graduated fromDutchess Community College in 2001 with anAssociate of Science degree inhumanities andsocial sciences.[5]
Molinaro was first elected to public office at the age of 18 in 1994, when he was elected to the Village of Tivoli's Board of Trustees.[5] In 1995, he became the youngest mayor in the U.S. when he was elected mayor of Tivoli.[9][10] He was reelected five times, and also served in the Dutchess County Legislature.[5]
In 2006, Molinaro was elected to represent the 103rd District in theNew York State Assembly.[11] He served in the Assembly until 2011. In January 2011, at the recommendation of Assembly Minority LeaderBrian Kolb, GovernorAndrew Cuomo appointed Molinaro to serve on the Governor's Mandate Relief Redesign Team.[12]
Molinaro announced his bid to succeed 20-yearDutchess County Executive William Steinhaus in May 2011. The campaign was endorsed by the county's Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties. On June 3, Beekman supervisorDan French won the Democratic nomination. Molinaro won the November 8, 2011, election with 62% of the vote.[13] He was sworn into office on January 1, 2012. In 2015, Molinaro was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Diane Jablonski,[14] 30,181 votes to 17,539.[15] Molinaro won a third term in 2019, defeating Democratic nominee Joseph Ruggiero,[16] 41,285 votes to 29,293.[17]
In 2014, Molinaro was awarded the Pace University Land Use Law Center's Groundbreaker's Award.[5] As county executive, he spearheaded a 2015 initiative called "Think Differently" for people with disabilities; he also appointed a Deputy Commissioner of Special Needs in 2016.[9] In 2015, Molinaro was elected second vice president of the New York State Association of Counties.[5]
In March 2018, Molinaro informed Republican leaders that he would run forgovernor of New York in the2018 election.[18] He announced his candidacy on April 2, 2018, and was endorsed by theNew York Conservative Party on April 13.[19][20] On May 23, the Republican Party unanimously nominated Molinaro for governor at its state convention, three days after theReform Party endorsed Molinaro for its gubernatorial ticket.[21][22] Molinaro's running mate was Julie Killian, a former Rye City councilwoman and state senate candidate.[23] While he was described as a moderate during the campaign,[24][25][26] Molinaro said in a March 2018 interview that he considered himself acommunitarian, explaining that he believed leaders need to bring together community members of different perspectives to solve the problems they face.[27]
Molinaro lost to incumbentDemocratic governorAndrew Cuomo in the 2018 election,[28] 60% to 36% of the vote.[29]
On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced his candidacy for Congress inNew York's 19th congressional district.[4] Ten days after this announcement, his campaign reported raising at least $350,000.[30] A special election to fill the 19th congressional district seat was held in August 2022. The seat was left vacant followingAntonio Delgado's appointment asLieutenant Governor of New York. Molinaro lost the special election to DemocratPat Ryan.
Molinaro was also the Republican nominee in the November 2022 general election in the 19th district. In that election, he faced Democratic nomineeJosh Riley.[31] He narrowly won the House seat with 50.8% of the vote.[32]
Molinaro sought reelection in 2024. He faced Riley in a rematch of their 2022 race.[33] Riley defeated Molinaro.[34]
Molinaro was among a group of New York congressman calling for the ultimately successful expulsion ofGeorge Santos from Congress.[35]
In 2024, Molinaro was rated as the second most bipartisan member of the U.S. House during the118th United States Congress in the Bipartisan Index created byThe Lugar Center and theMcCourt School of Public Policy. He has sponsored several bipartisan bills to help children and adults with disabilities.[38]
Molinaro supportssame-sex marriage. He said that he would have voted for theRespect for Marriage Act had he been in office during the117th Congress.[39]
In 2022, Molinaro stated "Like it or not, theUnited States Supreme Court has determined in theDobbs decision that this is a states rights issue. As such, I do not believe that Congress has any role to play in a woman’s right to access."[40]
During the 118th Congress, Molinaro voted for the Parents Bill of Rights in Education, a bill that would require public schools to disclose information including budget, curriculum, and school performance to parents.[41]
Molinaro and his wife, Corinne Adams, reside inCatskill, New York.[42] Molinaro has two children with his first wife Christy[43] and two children with Adams.[44] One of his children is on theautism spectrum.[43]
Molinaro isProtestant.[45]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Andrew Cuomo | 3,424,416 | 56.16% | +8.64% | |
| Working Families | Andrew Cuomo | 114,478 | 1.88% | −1.43% | |
| Independence | Andrew Cuomo | 68,713 | 1.13% | −0.91% | |
| Women's Equality | Andrew Cuomo | 27,733 | 0.45% | −0.96% | |
| Total | Andrew Cuomo (incumbent) | 3,635,340 | 59.62% | +5.43% | |
| Republican | Marc Molinaro | 1,926,485 | 31.60% | −0.79% | |
| Conservative | Marc Molinaro | 253,624 | 4.16% | −2.41% | |
| Reform | Marc Molinaro | 27,493 | 0.45% | N/A | |
| Total | Marc Molinaro | 2,207,602 | 36.21% | −4.10% | |
| Green | Howie Hawkins | 103,946 | 1.70% | −3.14% | |
| Libertarian | Larry Sharpe | 95,033 | 1.56% | +1.12% | |
| SAM | Stephanie Miner | 55,441 | 0.91% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 6,097,362 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pat Ryan | 58,427 | 45.30% | –2.70 | |
| Working Families | Pat Ryan | 7,516 | 5.83% | –0.72 | |
| Total | Pat Ryan | 65,943 | 51.13% | –3.66 | |
| Republican | Marc Molinaro | 52,350 | 40.58% | –2.62 | |
| Conservative | Marc Molinaro | 10,602 | 8.22% | N/A | |
| Total | Marc Molinaro | 62,952 | 48.80% | +5.60 | |
| Write-in | 96 | 0.07% | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 128,991 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marc Molinaro | 129,960 | 45.18% | |
| Conservative | Marc Molinaro | 16,044 | 5.58% | |
| Total | Marc Molinaro | 146,004 | 50.76% | |
| Democratic | Josh Riley | 124,396 | 43.25% | |
| Working Families | Josh Riley | 17,113 | 5.95% | |
| Total | Josh Riley | 141,509 | 49.20% | |
| Write-in | 105 | 0.04% | ||
| Total votes | 287,618 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Josh Riley | 170,049 | 45.06% | |
| Working Families | Josh Riley | 22,598 | 5.99% | |
| Total | Josh Riley | 192,647 | 51.05% | |
| Republican | Marc Molinaro | 164,001 | 43.46% | |
| Conservative | Marc Molinaro | 20,289 | 5.38% | |
| Total | Marc Molinaro (incumbent) | 184,290 | 48.84% | |
| Write-in | 406 | 0.11% | ||
| Total votes | 377,343 | 100% | ||
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theNew York State Assembly from the103rd district 2007–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Steinhaus | Executive ofDutchess County 2012–2023 | Succeeded by William O'Neil |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New York 2018 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 19th congressional district 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas former U.S. Representative |
