Democratic candidates react to Molinaro entering race for Assembly

CATSKILL―After weeks of speculation, Republican Marc Molinaro officially declared his candidacy this past weekend for the 102nd Assembly District seat currently held by Chris Tague.

This week, the three Democrats vying to win their party’s nomination reacted to news of Molinaro entering the race.

Thomas Boomhower, currently a Village of Catskill trustee, issued a statement saying that now, “voters in the 102nd Assembly District will have a clear choice about the kind of leadership they want.”

“While [Molinaro] is focused on partisan drama, and relitigating Washington politics, I’m focused on the challenges our communities are facing here―rising costs, housing affordability, and creating real economic opportunity for our communities,” Boomhower said.

Janet Tweed, a Village of Delhi trustee who ran against Tague in 2024, said in a statement that, "Across the political spectrum, people are tired of career politicians like Marc Molinaro who spout whatever opinion their donors or pollsters tell them to have.”

“We desperately need legitimate public servants who seek office not to enrich themselves, but to serve our communities,” Tweed added.

Mary Finneran of Cairo said that right now she is more concerned about primary contenders, Boomhower and Tweed.

“I will focus more on Molinaro after the primary election,” Finneran said.

Molinaro was nominated by the Greene County Republican Committee at their convention in Catskill on Saturday and publicly announced his candidacy on Monday morning.

“The 102nd District deserves experienced, accessible leadership that will fight for lower taxes, affordable energy, stronger local economies, reliable infrastructure, and policies that allow our children to build their futures right here at home,” said Molinaro.

Molinaro, who currently resides in Catskill with his wife and four children, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last August as the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) after being nominated for the position by President Donald Trump. He resigned the effective this past Friday.

His political career spans more than 30 years. Most recently Molinaro served as U.S. representative for New York's 19th Congressional District from 2023 to 2025, losing reelection to current Democratic Rep. Josh Riley.

Molinaro’s name has been on the hushed lips of local Republican leaders for several weeks as a possible contender for the Assembly seat. The reason for the apparent secrecy was tied to Molinaro’s FTA position.

Molinaro has been in public office since the age of 18 when he was elected to the Village of Tivoli Board of Trustees. A year later, Tivoli voters elected him the youngest mayor in the country at the time.

He served four terms in the Dutchess County Legislature and represented the 103rd District in the New York State Assembly from 2006 to 2011. Molinaro was elected Dutchess County Executive in 2011, serving until 2023 when he stepped down to serve in Congress.

In 2018, Molinaro was also the GOP nominee for governor, falling to Democratic incumbent Andrew Cuomo.

“Throughout my career as mayor, county executive, state assemblyman, member of Congress, and in federal leadership shaping national infrastructure policy, my focus has been simple: deliver practical solutions that help families make ends meet, support local employers, and strengthen our communities. I’ve seen firsthand how government decisions affect real people—and I know results matter,” said Molinaro.

“My decision to return to the State Legislature is also deeply personal. Public service has always been about strengthening families and communities—including my own. This is a moment where I want to continue serving while staying rooted in the communities that shaped my values and life,” he added.

According to Boomhower, “Our district doesn’t need more empty political rhetoric about ‘far-left’ or ‘far-right.’ It needs someone rooted here, who understands our towns and villages, and who will show up every day to work across differences to get things done for the people who actually live and work in the 102nd district.”

Tweed said she is running for state Assembly, “because I see firsthand the ways that politicians like Marc Molinaro have failed us and harmed our communities."

The last 102nd Assembly District race―between Tague and Tweed in 2024―saw Tague prevail, 46,038 to 26,423. The district covers all of Greene and Schoharie counties, along with parts of Delaware, Albany, Otsego and Ulster counties.

A Republican from Schoharie County, Tague has been the 102nd Assembly District representative since 2018. He announced in November that he will be pursuing the 51st State Senate District seat this year.

Windham Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt and Richard Amedure of Rensselaerville announced in December that they would be seeking the Republican nod. Both have recently suspended their campaigns.

Boomhower, Tweed and Finneran will face off in a primary election in June with the winner taking on Molinaro in November.