Marc Molinaro

Marc Molinaro is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 19th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the County Executive of Dutchess County from 2012 to 2023. Molinaro first gained political prominence as the youngest mayor in the nation when elected to lead the village of Tivoli at age 19, later serving in the New York State Assembly.

Early life and education

Marc Molinaro was born in Red Hook, New York, and was raised in the village of Tivoli. He attended local public schools before pursuing higher education at Dutchess Community College and later Marist College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His early interest in public service was influenced by his family's experiences with social services, including his mother's work with developmentally disabled individuals. During his college years, he became actively involved in local government and community organizations in the Hudson Valley.

Political career

Molinaro's political career began in 1995 when, at age 19, he was elected mayor of Tivoli, becoming the youngest mayor in the United States at that time. He served in that role for twelve years before being elected to represent the 103rd district in the New York State Assembly in a 2007 special election, succeeding Patrick Manning. In the State Legislature, he served on committees including Local Government and Social Services. In 2011, he was elected Dutchess County Executive, taking office in January 2012 and focusing on fiscal management and mental health services. He was the Republican nominee in the 2018 gubernatorial election, losing to incumbent Andrew Cuomo.

U.S. House of Representatives

Following the 2022 redistricting, Molinaro was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New York's 19th congressional district, defeating Democratic candidate Josh Riley. He assumed office on January 3, 2023, succeeding fellow freshman Pat Ryan, who had won a special election in the neighboring 18th district. In the 118th United States Congress, Molinaro was assigned to the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He represents a politically competitive swing district in the Hudson Valley and Southern Tier regions.

Political positions

Molinaro identifies as a moderate Republican and a member of the Republican Governance Group caucus. He has advocated for bipartisan solutions on infrastructure funding, supporting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. On fiscal policy, he has expressed concern over federal spending and the national debt. He supports increased funding for local law enforcement and has taken a moderate stance on certain environmental issues relevant to his district, including conservation in the Catskill Mountains. His platform has emphasized mental health care reform, a priority from his tenure as Dutchess County Executive, and support for the agricultural sector.

Electoral history

In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Molinaro was the Republican, Conservative, and Reform party nominee, losing to Governor Andrew Cuomo. He won re-election as Dutchess County Executive in 2015 and 2019 by wide margins. In the 2022 election for New York's 19th congressional district, he defeated Democrat Josh Riley with approximately 50.3% of the vote. He was re-elected in the 2024 election, again facing Riley in a rematch.

Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Category:New York (state) Republicans Category:County executives in New York (state)