Gotham Gazette

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Marc Molinaro

Marc Molinaro

  • Cuomo-Launched Women’s Equality Party Will Soon Make Statewide Nominations

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    Cuomo, Hochul & the WEP bus (photo: Andrew Cuomo/Facebook)


    As he sought a second term in 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo created the Women’s Equality Party amid a primary challenge from his left by Zephyr Teachout and as he sought to undermine the Working Families Party, which had begrudgingly endorsed him after he begrudgingly made a set of policy and political promises.

    Cuomo said it was time for a political party dedicated to women and traveled around on a bus highlighted with pink streaks to underscore his point.

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  • Party Nominations for Statewide Elections Come Into Focus

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    Cynthia Nixon at the WFP convention (photo: Make The Road Action)


    It’s political party convention season as this state and federal election year heats up in New York, with federal primaries on June 26, state primaries September 13, and the general election November 6.

    Over the weekend, the Working Families Party and Green Party held their nominating conventions on Saturday and the Reform Party held its on Sunday. This week the Democratic and Republican state parties will hold their conventions, nominating candidates for the

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  • Fusion, Spoilers, and New York's Many Ballot Lines

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    Gov. Cuomo voting (photo: Governor's Office)


    New York’s unique fusion voting system is again in the spotlight this year, with renewed attention in the wake of Cynthia Nixon’s insurgent challenge for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against Governor Andrew Cuomo, with the potential for vote-splitting on the left leading to a Republican victory in November. Cuomo and Nixon have each now been endorsed by a minor party with automatic general election ballot access, even as they vie for the big prize of the Democratic

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  • Marc Molinaro and The Trump Question

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    Marc Molinaro, left, and Chris Gibson (photo: @marcmolinaro)


    The presumptive Republican nominee for governor of New York did not vote for the Republican president of the United States.

    One question Marc Molinaro was asked most often in the early weeks of his campaign to replace Governor Andrew Cuomo is whether he voted for Donald Trump in November 2016.

    “I did not, I voted for Chris Gibson,” Molinaro told reporters in Albany on April 2, the day of his official campaign launch, naming the former Congressional representative who

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  • Is Cynthia Nixon Qualified to be Governor?

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    Cynthia Nixon (photo: @CynthiaNixon)


    In 2016, leading up to the presidential election, Democrats criticized Republican candidate Donald Trump’s lack of political and governmental experience while heralding Hillary Clinton’s long career in politics. This year, New York Democrats face a somewhat similar situation within the party given the primary challenge from actor and activist Cynthia Nixon to incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo.

    Since Nixon announced her candidacy in March, questions of qualifications and experience have been raised

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  • Republican Governors Association ‘Keeping Close Eye’ on New York

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    Gov. Cuomo (photo: Governor's Office)


    In the 2014 race for governor, when Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic incumbent, was leading by 37 points over his Republican rival Rob Astorino with nearly four months till Election Day, the Republican Governors Association wrote off the loss.

    Then-RGA chair Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey at the time, publicly refused to come to Astorino’s aid. “I will spend time in places

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  • Molinaro Outlines Initial Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform Agenda

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    Marc Molinaro (photo: @marcmolinaro)


    When he formally launched his run for governor earlier this month, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said that “all New Yorkers are paying a corruption tax.” It is a tax, Molinaro explained, that is the result of both legal and illegal malfeasance, of wasteful, ineffective, and corrupt government. In his initial remarks that day, at events in Tivoli and Albany, and during multiple exchanges with journalists, Molinaro has outlined elements of a reform agenda that, he says, will help restore faith in government

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  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Molinaro Launches Campaign for Governor

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    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    April 2, 2018 - Max & Murphy Podcast: Molinaro Launches Campaign for Governor

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    Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has been a declared candidate for Governor for several weeks,

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  • The Week Ahead in New York Politics, April 2

    New York City Hall

    New York City Hall


    What to watch for this week in New York politics:

    With a new state budget in place, City Council preliminary budget hearings over, and it being the annual April school break, there are limited events scheduled this week. But, that does not mean the politics will be anywhere near quiet. In fact, things get moving quickly on Monday morning as Republican Marc Molinaro officially launches his campaign for Governor -- see below for details and read ...

  • In Run for Governor, Marc Molinaro Will Make a Character Argument

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    Marc Molinaro (photo: @MarcMolinaro)


    Marc Molinaro wants you to believe in government again. In order to do so, he will argue, you must elect him to be the next governor of New York, eschewing the cutthroat, divisive, corrupt politics of Andrew Cuomo and opting for unity, dignity, and bipartisan problem-solving.

    The 42-year-old Republican is in his second term as Dutchess County Executive; on Monday he will officially launch his gubernatorial campaign from the town of Tivoli, where he grew up and was elected mayor at 18, in

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  • Molinaro Emerges on Top After Manhattan GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Forum

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    Marc Molinaro (photo via Facebook)


    Weeks before he is set to officially launch his campaign for governor, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has all but claimed the Republican nomination, and on Wednesday, he locked up another endorsement putting him closer to the goal.

    At a gubernatorial candidate screening Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan, Molinaro emerged as the top choice of the Manhattan County Republicans over state Senator John DeFrancisco and Joseph Holland, a former aide to Governor George Pataki.

    Over the

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  • Possible GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh Chances to Unseat Cuomo

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    L-R: Harry Wilson, John DeFrancisco, Marc Molinaro, Brian Kolb


    The Republican pool of candidates exploring an attempt to unseat Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2018 gubernatorial race appears to be shrinking. Now just four Republicans say they are exploring a run -- down from at least seven prior to this past Election Day -- with the potential candidates vowing to announce their decisions by Christmas.

    Targeting the well-funded Democratic governor seeking his third term would typically be a bold but calculated bet. On one hand, Cuomo

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