Election 2024: Marc Molinaro Leans on Bipartisanship in Re-Election Bid for New York’s 19th District

As voters in New York’s 19th Congressional District prepare to head to the polls, they face a rematch between two candidates offering distinct visions for the future. Spanning a diverse region that includes Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Tioga, and Tompkins counties, as well as parts of Otsego and Ulster counties, the district remains competitive, reflecting a mix of political ideologies. 

Republican incumbent Marcus Molinaro, who won the seat in the 2022 midterms with 50.8% of the vote, is running for re-election on a platform emphasizing his experience in local government. His opponent, Democrat Josh Riley, who garnered 49.2% of the vote in that same election, is again focusing his campaign on rebuilding the middle class and curbing corporate influence in politics. Both Molinaro and Riley were first-time congressional candidates in 2022, making this rematch a continuation of their tightly contested race. The New Pine Plains Herald interviewed both candidates to provide insights into their positions on the key issues shaping this election.

Marc Molinaro’s political career began at age 19 in Tivoli, where in 1995 he was elected the youngest mayor in the United States. For more than three decades, Molinaro has held a variety of public service roles. From 2006 to 2011 he served in the New York state assembly, then spent a decade as Dutchess County Executive, and is now a first-term member of Congress. 

“Unlike Washington, D.C., lawyers, I know that the decisions we make have actual impacts on actual people,” Molinaro said in an interview with the Herald, reflecting on how his background as a local leader has influenced his work in Congress. “I served 12 years as a county executive and 12 years as a village mayor. I know the way the government is supposed to work for people, and I apply that experience to truly help make a difference. It’s the reason I’m the second most bipartisan member of Congress and the fourth most productive member of Congress, House and Senate,” Molinaro said, citing a ranking of congressional bipartisanship published by The Lugar Center and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy.

As county executive, Molinaro worked on initiatives ranging from economic development to mental health services, and he continues to apply that experience to his role in Congress, he said. “I come to the table understanding what it’s like to have big government and big business make decisions that make it too hard for people,” Molinaro said. “I work to make sure that we’re making it easier for the people we serve.”

One of the most pressing issues in the 19th District is the rising cost of living. Molinaro attributes much of the current inflation to federal spending policies implemented by the Biden administration, which he believes have disproportionately impacted the region. “In a place like upstate New York, where we already have the highest property tax burden, this is unsustainable,” he said. However, economists at the independent, nonprofit Economic Policy Institute suggest that data indicates that high inflation rates are a global phenomenon, and not unique to the United States, and consequently not caused by U.S. policy.

Immigration is another issue that Molinaro has highlighted throughout his campaign. He is critical of the bipartisan border bill that was ultimately blocked by Senate Republicans, at the urging of former President Trump. “The Senate bill simply codifies the problem and takes $1 billion of taxpayer money to embolden it,” Molinaro said. He has called for stricter border security measures, including increased resources for Border Patrol agents and a reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Molinaro also supports reforms to the immigration process, including expanded access to work visas. However, he stresses that securing the border must come first before any further changes can be made to the immigration system. “We need to fix the problem at the source before we can consider new measures for legal immigration,” he said. Molinaro opposes the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize services for illegal immigrants, arguing that these funds should be allocated to pressing local needs instead. “We have to focus on the people here first and get our priorities straight when it comes to where tax dollars go.”

Another major issue Molinaro addressed is abortion. “I believe that when it comes to reproductive health decisions, those decisions should be left between a woman and her physician, not Washington, DC”, he told the Herald. “My opponent has spent millions of dollars lying about my record and position,” Molinaro said. “I’ve blocked and will continue to oppose a national abortion ban.” 

Molinaro characterizes his approach to climate change as emphasizing the need to balance environmental sustainability and economic growth, particularly in the Hudson Valley. A member of the bipartisan Climate Coalition and the Conservative Climate Caucus, Molinaro said he supports developing new technologies to address climate change while preserving jobs in the region. “I believe addressing climate change and climate resiliency is an urgent issue,” Molinaro said. “We must continue to develop policies that conserve and preserve our natural resources while advancing the technologies necessary to expand renewable energy.”

Molinaro has endorsed former President Trump in his bid for re-election. However, he does not condone the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying “we can never resort to that kind of violence and intimidation when it comes to our elections or the peaceful transfer of power.”

Molinaro’s campaign often emphasizes his record of bipartisanship, which he says is key to making meaningful progress on these and other issues. He said that finding common ground with colleagues on both sides of the aisle is essential for getting things done in Congress. “I believe every problem can be solved if we find common ground and build the consensus necessary to solve it,” Molinaro said. “I’ll work with anyone — Republican or Democrat — who’s honest and earnest about solving problems for the people I serve.”

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with early voting available from Oct. 26 through Nov. 3. You can find your polling location here. For additional coverage of the race in New York’s 19th Congressional District, read the Herald’s profile of Josh Riley.