Trump-backed Constantino claims narrow win in New York’s 21st District
With preliminary results showing all election districts reporting, Constantino led Gendebien 51% to 48.8%. Constantino declared victory shortly after 11 p.m. at a gathering in Amsterdam, outside the district. Gendebien addressed supporters later that night and said his remarks were not a concession, adding that votes still needed to be counted. His campaign also described the race as too close to call.
The contest was for the seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. The district has more registered Republicans than Democrats, and President Donald Trump carried it by 24 points in 2024. Gendebien, an Ogdensburg dairy farmer, nonetheless ran closer than recent Democratic candidates for the seat.
Constantino, chief executive of printing company Sticker Mule, won the Republican nomination after defeating Assembly Member Robert Smullen in the primary. Trump endorsed him, but the primary left tensions within Republican circles, and some conservatives had concerns about Constantino’s confrontational style. Democrats put substantial resources into the race as polling suggested the district could be competitive.
Constantino said he would spend the next two years trying to win over voters who backed Gendebien. He also promised $1,000 bonuses for Sticker Mule employees. Gendebien said his campaign had helped bring out record turnout and that he would respect the result.
Trump-backed Republican narrowly holds Stefanik’s seat
A Trump-backed Republican declared victory by less than three points in a district that had long been a safe bet for the GOP. Preliminary results showed Anthony Constantino ahead of Blake Gendebien 51% to 48.8%, despite the district’s Republican registration advantage and Donald Trump’s 24-point win there in 2024.
Gendebien, a dairy farmer from Ogdensburg, said the race was not over and that votes remained to be counted. He also said his campaign had drawn record turnout and brought in neighbors who had skipped previous elections. His showing made the contest far closer than recent Democratic efforts in the district.
Constantino won the GOP nomination with Trump’s backing, after a primary against Assembly Member Robert Smullen that left internal party tensions. His combative style also troubled some conservatives. Democrats invested in the race as polling showed the seat was more competitive than its history suggested.
The contest offered Democrats an opening in a heavily Republican district, while the narrow margin underscored that Trump’s endorsement did not turn the race into an easy win. Constantino said he would try to win over Gendebien voters during his next two years in office.
GOP keeps North Country seat as Constantino claims victory
Republicans held the North Country seat being vacated by Elise Stefanik, as Trump-backed candidate Anthony Constantino claimed a narrow win over Democrat Blake Gendebien. Preliminary results put Constantino ahead 51% to 48.8%, in a district where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.
Constantino, a Sticker Mule executive who won the Republican nomination after a primary victory over Assembly Member Robert Smullen, thanked Trump and other supporters at his election-night gathering. He said he would work to win over voters who chose Gendebien and pledged $1,000 bonuses for his company’s employees.
Gendebien, an Ogdensburg dairy farmer, did not concede, saying votes remained to be counted. He said his campaign had helped inspire record turnout. Democrats invested heavily after polling suggested the seat could be competitive, while some local conservatives had expressed concerns about Constantino’s confrontational manner.
The result would keep the seat in Republican hands, though the close margin followed a contentious primary and a stronger-than-usual Democratic challenge. Constantino’s victory came in a district Trump carried by 24 points in 2024.
Reported by New York Post, City & State New York.
