Republican Marc Molinaro and Democrat Janet Tweed are vying to represent New York state’s 102nd Assembly District. The candidates are seeking to replace Republican Chris Tague, who’s running for state Senate.
Molinaro previously represented the 103rd Assembly District, the 19th Congressional District, and served three terms as Dutchess County executive. He was most recently the administrator for the Federal Transit Administration, before stepping down to return to state politics.
“The challenges facing our friends, our neighbors, our communities can be solved when people work together, and we confront the real challenge and the problems coming out of Albany,” said Molinaro.
Janet Tweed ran unsuccessfully against Chris Tague for this assembly seat in 2024. She’s a physical therapist at a rural critical access hospital, previously served on the Delhi Town Board, and currently serves on the village’s Board of Trustees.
“We can do more, but that rural voice needs to be heard, and it needs to be heard by somebody who does live in the district and does know what it means both to work and also serve in local government,” said Tweed.
Both candidates say their top priority is steering policy in Albany on affordability and access to resources, from utility costs to health and mental health care.
Molinaro says state policy is driving providers out of rural communities.
“When the state needed to shore up downstate, at-risk, urban hospitals they took the sales tax revenue from upstate counties and sent it down there. I want our money back,” said Molinaro.
For Tweed, she says the most important thing to do is pass the New York Health Act.
“Single payer, universal healthcare. You’re a New Yorker, you have healthcare… and that saves the patient, the consumer money,” said Tweed.
The district encompasses parts of Albany, Schoharie, Otsego, Delaware and Greene counties. Election Day is Nov. 3.