U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro left the door wide open to future public service after conceding his reelection loss Tuesday to Josh Riley in New York's 19th Congressional District, including not ruling out making a play for Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat, which would be vacant if she were to be confirmed as U.N. ambassador.

"I am not done providing public service to the people of the state of New York, and quite frankly, considering what options might be available to me moving forward,” Molinaro told Spectrum News 1 Tuesday evening on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

After winning a seat in Congress in 2022, Molinaro was unseated last week in a rematch race with Democrat Josh Riley in the 19th District, which stretches from Rensselaer and Columbia counties in the east to Tompkins County and includes the cities of Binghamton and Ithaca.

That means come January, Molinaro won’t be in public office for the first time in decades. He was a young mayor, county legislator, state assemblyman and first elected Dutchess County executive in 2011 before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also the Republican nominee for governor in 2018 against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

One option for Molinaro’s future could come sooner rather than later. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, representing New York's 21st Congressional District, is set to leave Congress after 10 years after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, assuming she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, which she isn’t expected to face any hurdles in.

Stefanik’s appointment would leave her seat vacant, which will trigger a special election. Molinaro was asked by Spectrum News 1 if he would seek to succeed her and he didn’t rule out that option.

Stefanik’s confirmation hearings wouldn’t take place until after the new Congress convenes in January, and when she would officially resign her House seat is unknown at this time. Per state law, Gov. Kathy Hochul has to schedule a special election within 10 days from being notified of a vacancy, which then has to then take place within 80 days.

In special elections for Congress in New York state, local party committees choose their candidates, meaning Molinaro would have to win the approval of local GOP committees to be the Republican nominee in a special election, which would likely take place some time next spring.

Molinaro is currently a resident of Catskill, in Dutchess County, meaning he does not live in the 21st District, but there are no rules for members of Congress to reside in the district which they represent.

Other Republican names being floated to fill the seat are Schoharie-area state Assemblymember Chris Tague, state Sen. Dan Stec and Assemblymember Robert Smullen, who do live in the district as currently drawn.

The 21st District is a heavily Republican district.