N.Y. state Conservative leaders back Molinaro
Leaders of the New York state Conservative Party are backing Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro in the race for governor.
Molinaro, one of two Republicans vying to unseat Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, thanked state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long and the organization’s executive committee on Monday for supporting his campaign, which he officially launched April 2.
The executive committee unanimously voted Friday in Brooklyn to recommend the party endorse Molinaro. Conservatives will hold their party’s nominating convention May 31 in Manhattan.
Molinaro and Syracusearea state Sen. John DeFrancisco are seeking the Republican nomination, which will be made during next month’s state GOP convention on Long Island. Molinaro has received endorsements from most of the county Republican leaders in the state.
Cuomo is seeking a third four-year term in office. He is being challenged for the Democratic nomination by actress Cynthia Nixon, who already has the backing of the Working Families Party.
Molinaro, 42, he got his start in politics as a village of Tivoli trustee at age 18. He was elected mayor of Tivoli in 1995 at age 19 and was, at the time, the youngest mayor in the nation.
He then served as a Dutchess County legislator before being elected to the state Assembly. He was elected Dutchess County executive in 2011 and was reelected in 2015.
Molinaro lives in the town of Red Hook with his wife, Corinne, and three children.