Trump-endorsed candidate wins GOP primary for Stefanik’s House seat

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Republican Anthony Constantino, the Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to follow Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as the representative of New York’s 21st Congressional District, is projected to advance to the November general election, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ.

The district’s Republican primary election ended with Constantino defeating New York Assemblymember Robert Smullen (R), who was endorsed by the New York State Republican and Conservative parties and 12 of the 15 county Republican committees, according to the Cook Political Report.

Cook Political Report also noted that it’s an open race for a district that’s solid Republican. The district includes the cities of Rome and Glens Falls and much of the Adirondack Mountains, bordering Vermont and Canada.

Smullen and Constantino, the CEO of the Sticker Mule factory, faced off in a brutal primary fight where the former accused the latter of not being qualified for Congress and knocking him for once being a registered Democrat up until 2024.

Constantino threatened to sue his GOP opponent and called him an “evil person,” Politico reported.

“All my attacks are honest and things that people need to know,” Constantino told the outlet. “President Trump changed a lot of norms. Why don’t you want politicians talking to citizens?”

Smullen was the GOP favorite expected to win the primary, carrying a 10-point polling lead over Constantino in April. Trump endorsed Constantino that same month, touting that the candidate carried support from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and longtime political operative and “dirty trickster” Roger Stone.

Constantino says on his campaign website that he self-funded his race “so that no donor, lobbyist, or special interest will influence me”

“I will answer only to the people of New York’s 21st Congressional District, to President Trump who earned our respect, and to my own moral compass,” he added.

The sticker business owner also received endorsements from former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and UFC champion Henry Cejudo.

Constantino’s campaign website also features an “FAQ” section on several issues, including giving aid to Israel and his “thoughts” on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He called Democratic opposition to giving Israel $3.8 million in aid “irrational bulls—,” and claimed that “Social media censors deleted President Trump’s message to protest ‘peacefully and patriotically’ to confuse the public” on Jan. 6.

Constantino’s name will appear on the ballot going into the general election on Nov. 3.

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Donald Trump

Elise Stefanik

Jim Jordan

Michael Flynn

Roger Stone

Rudy Giuliani

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