ALBANY - Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro struggled to raise money in his unsuccessful bid Nov. 6 to defeat Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Now, two weeks later, he's already asking supporters to donate to his ongoing "journey."
"While we secured more votes than any Republican candidate since 2002, it just wasn't enough," the Dutchess County executive said in a fundraising email Tuesday.
"But rest assured the journey is just beginning and our work continues. There is so much more we can and must do, together. And, I need your help."
Molinaro spent more than $1.3 million on his gubernatorial run this year, but he was swamped in fundraising by Cuomo, who spent more than $30 million during his primary and general election wins.
Cuomo won a third term by beating Molinaro 59 percent to 37 percent. Cuomo had 3.3 million votes to Molinaro's 2 million — which were high vote totals for both candidates because of strong turnout.
The early fundraising plea comes as Molinaro decides whether to seek a third term as county executive next year and then, if he runs and wins, mulls whether to run for governor again in 2022.
Molinaro, 43, said days after his election loss that it was too soon to consider his next political options.
But he made clear he will continue to be an active voice in New York politics as the flag bearer for the struggling Republican Party, which hasn't won a statewide race since 2002.
"I didn’t run with the expectation that I would run again. It’s what my granddad told me: Do your job well, and they’ll consider you for a promotion," Molinaro told the USA Today Network's Albany Bureau on Nov. 8.
"What I believe is part of my job now is not only the service to Dutchess County, but again to speak out on behalf of people who deserve a voice, and that’s what I’m going to do as county executive and that’s what I’m going to continue to do as a public official."
Cuomo won a third term on the strength of the New York City vote and its immediate suburbs on Long Island and Westchester. He also won upstate's largest counties in a state with twice as many Democrats as Republicans.
But Molinaro did win 47 of the 62 counties in New York.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro speaks after being defeated in New York's gubernatorial race. Nina Schutzman, Poughkeepsie Journal
Cuomo, though, basked in the victory, saying voters beat back the policies of Republicans and President Donald Trump, whom Cuomo repeatedly tied Molinaro to.
"Molinaro had the same positions as Trump," Cuomo charged in a Nov. 8 interview on WAMC public radio in Albany.
"I ran in favor of a women's right to choose, Molinaro and Trump are against it. I ran for gun safety, Molinaro and Trump are against it. On those issues, they are the same people."
Molinaro said he didn't vote for Trump and while he is pro-life, he wouldn't have infringed on abortion rights in New York if elected. But Molinaro didn't have enough money to counter Cuomo's avalanche ads that linked him to Trump.
Still, Molinaro said he was encouraged by the support he received during the campaign, and Republican leaders said they think he could run again in 2022.
"We can continue to fight for all taxpayers, speak for those who feel left out and work to make our state better for all those who call it home," Molinaro's email Tuesday said.
