Marc Molinaro

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Marc Molinaro
Official portrait, 2025
Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 4, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyTariq Bokhari
Preceded byNuria I. Fernandez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 19th district
In office
January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded byPat Ryan (redistricted)
Succeeded byJosh Riley
County Executive of Dutchess County
In office
January 1, 2012 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byWilliam Steinhaus
Succeeded byWilliam O'Neil
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 103rd district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2011
Preceded byPatrick Manning
Succeeded byDidi Barrett
Member of the Dutchess County Legislature
In office
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2006
Preceded byFrances Mark
Succeeded byDavid Seymour
Mayor of Tivoli
In office
1995–2007
Preceded byEdward Neese
Succeeded byThomas Cordier
Personal details
Born (1975-10-08) October 8, 1975 (age 50)
Yonkers, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse(s)Christy (divorced)
Corinne Adams
Children4
EducationDutchess Community College (AS)
WebsiteHouse website
Molinaro's voice
Molinaro supporting increased FAA funding
Recorded July 19, 2023

Marcus James Molinaro[1] (/moʊlɪˈnɛəroʊ/ moh-lin-AIR-oh; born October 8, 1975)[2] is an American politician who has served as the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the U.S. representative for New York's 19th congressional district from 2023 to 2025. Molinaro was a member of the Dutchess County Legislature and the New York State Assembly before being elected county executive of Dutchess County, New York, in 2011.[3] He was reelected county executive in 2015 and 2019. Molinaro is also a former mayor of Tivoli; when he became mayor at age 19, he was the youngest mayor in the United States at that time.[4] Molinaro was the Republican nominee for governor of New York in 2018, losing to Democratic incumbent Andrew Cuomo.

On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced that he would run for New York's 19th district in the United States House of Representatives in 2022.[5] In the special election held on August 23, 2022, Molinaro lost to Democratic nominee Pat Ryan, the Ulster County executive, 51.2% to 48.8%. Molinaro was the Republican nominee for the same seat in the November 2022 general election, this time defeating Democratic nominee Josh 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.

In February 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Molinaro to be the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. In August 2025, Molinaro took office after being confirmed by the Senate in a 71–23 vote.

Early life

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Molinaro was born in Yonkers, New York,[6] to Anthony Molinaro[7] and Dona Vananden.[8] After his parents' divorce, he and his mother moved to Beacon, New York, in 1980,[9][6] and to Tivoli, New York, in 1989.[6] Molinaro's mother struggled financially, and the family received food stamps.[9] Molinaro graduated from Dutchess Community College in 2001 with an Associate of Science degree in humanities and social sciences.[6]

Early political career

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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.[6] In 1995, he became the youngest mayor in the U.S. when he was elected mayor of Tivoli.[10][11] He was reelected five times, and also served in the Dutchess County Legislature.[6]

New York State Assembly

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In 2006, Molinaro was elected to represent the 103rd District in the New York State Assembly.[12] He served in the Assembly until 2011. In January 2011, at the recommendation of Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Molinaro to serve on the Governor's Mandate Relief Redesign Team.[13]

Dutchess County Executive

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Molinaro announced his bid to succeed 20-year Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus in May 2011. The campaign was endorsed by the county's Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties. On June 3, Beekman supervisor Dan French won the Democratic nomination. Molinaro won the November 8, 2011, election with 62% of the vote.[14] He was sworn into office on January 1, 2012. In 2015, Molinaro was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Diane Jablonski,[15] 30,181 votes to 17,539.[16] Molinaro won a third term in 2019, defeating Democratic nominee Joseph Ruggiero,[17] 41,285 votes to 29,293.[18]

In 2014, Molinaro was awarded the Pace University Land Use Law Center's Groundbreaker's Award.[6] 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.[10] In 2015, Molinaro was elected second vice president of the New York State Association of Counties.[6]

2018 gubernatorial election

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Main article: 2018 New York gubernatorial election

In March 2018, Molinaro informed Republican leaders that he would run for governor of New York in the 2018 election.[19] He announced his candidacy on April 2, 2018, and was endorsed by the New York Conservative Party on April 13.[20][21] On May 23, the Republican Party unanimously nominated Molinaro for governor at its state convention, three days after the Reform Party endorsed Molinaro for its gubernatorial ticket.[22][23] Molinaro's running mate was Julie Killian, a former Rye City councilwoman and state senate candidate.[24] While he was described as a moderate during the campaign,[25][26][27] Molinaro said in a March 2018 interview that he considered himself a communitarian, explaining that he believed leaders need to bring together community members of different perspectives to solve the problems they face.[28]

On Election Day, Molinaro lost to incumbent Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo[29] by a margin of 60% to 36%.[30]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Official U.S. House Portrait

Elections

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2022 special

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Main article: 2022 New York's 19th congressional district special election

On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced his candidacy for Congress in New York's 19th congressional district.[5] Ten days after this announcement, his campaign reported raising at least $350,000.[31] A special election to fill the 19th congressional district seat was held in August 2022. The seat was left vacant following Antonio Delgado's appointment as Lieutenant Governor of New York. Molinaro lost the special election to Democrat Pat Ryan.

2022 general

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Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 19

Molinaro was also the Republican nominee in the November 2022 general election in the 19th district. In that election, he faced Democratic nominee Josh Riley.[32] He narrowly won the House seat with 50.8% of the vote.[33]

2024 general

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Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 19

Molinaro sought reelection in 2024. He faced Riley in a rematch of their 2022 race.[34] Riley defeated Molinaro.[35]

Tenure
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Molinaro was among a group of New York congressman calling for the ultimately successful expulsion of George Santos from Congress.[36]

Caucus memberships

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Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration

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In February 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Molinaro to be the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.[39] While awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation, Molinaro worked as a Senior Advisor at the FTA.[40] On August 2, 2025, Molinaro was confirmed by the Senate in a 71–23 vote.[41] He was sworn in two days later on August 4.[42]

Political positions

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In 2024, Molinaro was rated as the second most bipartisan member of the U.S. House during the 118th United States Congress in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy. He has sponsored several bipartisan bills to help children and adults with disabilities.[43]

Molinaro supports same-sex marriage. He said that he would have voted for the Respect for Marriage Act had he been in office during the 117th Congress.[44]

Regarding abortion rights, Molinaro made the following remarks in 2022:

Like it or not, the United States Supreme Court has determined in the Dobbs 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. I will not vote for an abortion ban. On a personal level, I do believe, like most Americans, that very late term and partial-birth abortions, should be restricted, except of course, in the case of rape, incest, and the health of the mother.[45]

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.[46]

Personal life

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Molinaro and his wife, Corinne Adams, reside in Catskill, New York.[47] Molinaro has two children with his first wife Christy[48] and two children with Adams.[49] One of his children is on the autism spectrum.[48]

Molinaro is Protestant.[50]

Electoral history

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2018 New York gubernatorial election[30]
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
2022 New York's 19th congressional district special election[51][52]
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%
Democratic hold
2022 New York's 19th congressional district general election
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%
2024 New York's 19th congressional district general election[53]
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%

References

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