Former FTA Head Molinaro Announces Campaign for 102nd Assembly District

Molinaro, a Republican, aims to replace outgoing Assembly Member Chris Tague in the 102nd District.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Marc Molinaro, the former head of the Federal Transit Administration under the Trump administration, has announced that he will be running for the 102nd State Assembly District in New York. Molinaro, a Republican, is looking to replace the current Assembly Member Chris Tague, who is running for the 51st Senate District.

Why it matters

Molinaro's entry into the race for the 102nd Assembly District sets up a potentially competitive race, as he will be facing off against several Democratic candidates. The 102nd District covers a large swath of upstate New York, including all of Greene and Schoharie Counties, as well as parts of Albany, Delaware and Otsego Counties.

The details

In his announcement, Molinaro touted his political experience, which includes serving in Congress, as Dutchess County Executive, and most recently as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. He said he plans to leverage this experience to fight against "progressive special interests and incompetent far-left politicians" and focus on issues like the high cost of living, energy and healthcare costs, and job creation.

  • Molinaro announced his campaign on February 25, 2026.
  • The 2026 election for the 102nd Assembly District will take place in November 2026.

The players

Marc Molinaro

A former head of the Federal Transit Administration under the Trump administration, Molinaro is now running as a Republican candidate for the 102nd State Assembly District in New York.

Chris Tague

The current Assembly Member for the 102nd District, Tague is running for the 51st Senate District in 2026.

Kathy Hochul

The current Governor of New York, who Molinaro criticized as a "progressive special interest" and "incompetent far-left politician."

Zohran Mamdani

A New York State Assemblymember who Molinaro also criticized as a "progressive special interest" and "incompetent far-left politician."

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What they’re saying

“After an incredible, record-breaking year in the Trump Administration, I'm coming home.”

— Marc Molinaro (localsyr.com)

“I'm confident there is no one better suited to represent this district with the same passion and commitment as I have. I look forward to continuing our partnership to deliver strong representation for our constituents in NYS AD 102 and the 51st Senate District.”

— Chris Tague, Assembly Member (localsyr.com)

“The fight is here. This is an opportunity — a real opportunity — to give a voice to families, farmers and small businesses that are just struggling too hard. We're all paying too much and getting too little in return.”

— Marc Molinaro (localsyr.com)

What’s next

The 2026 election for the 102nd Assembly District will take place in November 2026.

The takeaway

Molinaro's entry into the race for the 102nd Assembly District sets up a potentially competitive race, as he will be facing off against several Democratic candidates. His campaign promises to focus on issues like the high cost of living, energy and healthcare costs, and job creation, while also criticizing progressive politicians like Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani.