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.[4] 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.
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]
New York State Assembly
In 2006, Molinaro was elected to represent the 103rd District in the New York State Assembly.[11] 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.[12]
Dutchess County Executive
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.[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 for governor of New York in the 2018 election.[18] He announced his candidacy on April 2, 2018, and was endorsed by the New 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 the Reform 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 a communitarian, explaining that he believed leaders need to bring together community members of different perspectives to solve the problems they face.[27]
On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced his candidacy for Congress in New 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 following Antonio Delgado's appointment as Lieutenant Governor of New York. Molinaro lost the special election to Democrat Pat Ryan.
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.[31] He narrowly won the House seat with 50.8% of the vote.[32]
In 2022, Molinaro stated "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."[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]
Personal life
Molinaro and his wife, Corinne Adams, reside in Catskill, 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 the autism spectrum.[43]
