Molinaro launches grand return to New York politics

After 15 years – and a brief foray to Washington – Marc Molinaro plans to return to the state Assembly. 

Molinaro officially announced on Monday that he would run for Assembly District 102 upstate following reporting previewing the decision. The Republican left his post as head of the Federal Transit Administration last week, a job President Donald Trump nominated him to a year ago. “It’s been a great honor,” Molinaro told City & State. 

Going from overseeing a federal agency with a $22 billion budget and 10 regional offices to the lower chamber of a state legislature may appear like a downgrade. But the father of four said he wants to spend more time with his family, and sees the Assembly seat as a better fit to serve the community and tackle the state’s biggest problem: Lowering costs. Molinaro said no disagreement with the president, nor national politics, drove his decision to return to a more local office.

“I know it’s hard for people to understand,” Molinaro said. “I miss having the real roll-up your sleeves and hands-on involvement at a time it’s needed the most.”

Prior to his stint in the Trump administration, Molinaro already had a lengthy political career. He ran against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018, served one term in a Hudson Valley congressional swing district and was Dutchess County executive for over a decade. 

And working in the minority isn’t new for Molinaro either, who held an upstate Assembly seat from 2007 to 2011. Democrats also had the White House and Senate while he was in Congress while Republicans controlled the House. “There’s the quiet work you do without caring who takes the credit,” he said.

Molinaro is expected to easily win the solid Republican seat, which includes Schoharie and Greene counties, and parts of Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Otsego and Ulster counties. Three Democrats have filed to run. The only Republican candidate, Richard Amedure, has told Molinaro he’s dropping out.

Molinaro plans to stump for other Republicans this fall as well, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.  “We were county executives together,” Molinaro said.

If he succeeds, Molinaro would replace Assembly Member Chris Tague, who’s running for state Senate. He said Molinaro is the perfect person to take his place. 

Tague cited Molinaro’s long record of public service as a benefit for the district. He has held public office in some form since his election to the Village of Tivoli Board of Trustees at the age of 18. Molinaro was elected mayor the following year, becoming the youngest mayor in the U.S. at the time. 

“I’m confident there is no one better suited to represent this district with the same passion and commitment as I have,” Tague told City & State.

“There is no one with the knowledge of how state government operates like Marc does,” Tague added. “He was a powerhouse when he was there before, and he will be very helpful to both our conference and the entire Assembly as a whole.”

And Molinaro sought to offer assurance that he wants back in the Assembly for the sole purpose of serving in the Legislature rather than using it as a stepping stone to take another shot at becoming governor.

“Been there, done that,” he said with a laugh, adding, “That’s certainly not my intention. I certainly have returned home.”