July 17, 2023

RILEY OUTRAISES MOLINARO BY $170,000

Tops incumbent and raises most of any challenger in New York, without a cent from corporate PACs

ITHACA, N.Y. — Without taking a penny from corporate PACs, Democratic challenger Josh Riley outraised Republican incumbent Marc Molinaro by more than $170,000 in the second quarter of the year, according to FEC reports made public over the weekend.  

Riley brought in over $787,000 in the second quarter of 2023–more than any other Democratic challenger in New York. 96% of Riley’s money came from individuals, and 80% of Riley’s contributions were $25 or less.

By contrast, less than 30% of Molinaro’s total raise – just $179,000— came from real people. The rest of Molinaro’s fundraising haul came from a who’s-who of the corporate special interests and Republican party bosses waging war on upstate New Yorkers:

• Molinaro took $4,000 from the PAC of NYSEG’s parent company as they propose a 22% hike in Upstate utility rates.

• Molinaro took $4,000 from pharmaceutical and healthcare industry PACs, including Regeneron and United Health, as Big Pharma tries to raise prescription drug prices on seniors.

• Molinaro took $2,500 from UPS’s PAC as the company insults labor organizers and refuses to offer workers a fair contract.

• Molinaro took $1,000 from the NRA while opposing common-sense gun safety legislation to keep our kids and communities safe.

• Molinaro took $4,000 from Elise Stefanik, $2,000 from Kevin McCarthy, and $115,000 from McCarthy’s joint fundraising committee–so it’s no wonder he is voting with McCarthy 98% of the time.

“I’m so grateful for the outpouring of grassroots support our campaign has received,” Riley said. “ I’ll always fight for Upstate New York–not the special interests–and I’ll never take a penny from the corporate PACs that bribe politicians to do their bidding in Albany and Washington.”

“Marc Molinaro’s top supporters are utility companies jacking up rates, pharmaceutical companies price gouging seniors, and the radical DC Republicans fighting to tear away our rights. He’s working for them – not for us.” said Riley Campaign Manager Daniel Fleiss. “Molinaro continues to sell us out to the highest bidder, and it’s never been more clear that Upstate is ready for change.”

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Josh Riley is an Ithaca resident and a fifth-generation Broome County native. He previously served as counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and is now running for Congress in New York’s 19th District.