COPIED FROM TIMES UNION AS TEST: https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/constantino-gendebien-win-primaries-ny-21-race-22315831.php
ALBANY — There’s only one man standing now as the Republican nominee in New York’s 21st Congressional District.
Following a rambunctious primary campaign between businessman Anthony Constantino and state Assemblyman Robert Smullen that saw everything from an AI-generated rap video to a scandal involving murder, Constantino emerged victorious thanks to the backing of President Donald J. Trump and a campaign that spent nearly ten times more than his GOP opponent. His next race will be against Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County who soundly won the Democratic nomination over Stuart Amoriell.
Constantino emerged as the early frontrunner in the GOP primary as he celebrated confidently at a watch party at Lanzi’s On The Lake, a wedding venue overlooking the Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield. In a speech to his supporters, an emotional Constantino credited Trump with his triumph in the race.
“The president was really just endorsing the will of the people,” Constantino said. “I want to say thank you to him for having the courage to do that, because I’m not a typical politician. I wasn’t an establishment guy.”
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is vacating the congressional seat, had declined to offer an endorsement in the primary. On Tuesday night, she congratulated Constantino in a post on social media and said it was “a hard-fought election and the voters have spoken loudly.”
Constantino’s defeat of Smullen adds to a number of otherwise unlikely candidates who have cruised to victory over more polished insiders thanks to endorsements from the president. Several longtime incumbents in Congress, such as U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, were defeated in their respective primaries after running afoul of Trump during their time in office.
With both candidates expressing similar views and support of Trump, the race between Constantino and Smullen often boiled down to personal attacks. Constantino lambasted Smullen as insufficiently loyal to Trump, and called him “evil” in a text message exchange between the two. His supporters booed and swore at Smullen during a candidate event in Saratoga Springs over claims propagated by Constantino that Smullen owns a “Chinese solar farm.” (Smullen has denied those claims.)
Smullen, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel from Fulton County, attempted to cast himself as having higher moral standards, condemning Constantino’s behavior and rhetoric while questioning his integrity.
Following a debate between the two in May, Smullen refused to shake Constantino’s hand, citing the “evil” text message. But Smullen also did plenty of attacking of his own, calling Constantino “mentally unfit” and a “lifelong Democrat,” and also highlighting that Constantino once voted in a Democratic primary in Albany.
In addition to the backing of the state Republican Party, Smullen had the endorsement of 12 of the 15 Republican county committees in the district. But it wasn’t enough to offset the endorsement of Trump.
Though Smullen may have lost his primary, he may not be out of the race. Smullen was endorsed by the state’s Conservative Party, and will appear on the ballot unless he makes the decision to drop out. During the primary race, Smullen sidestepped questions on whether he would run as a third-party candidate. In a speech on Wednesday night conceding the race, Smullen said: “I am on the Conservative line in November. We’re going to assess in the coming days what the path forward is.”
Following Constantino’s primary victory, he will look to shore up support from local Republicans who have so far resisted endorsing him. Earlier this month, Constantino wrote the district’s county committees, striking a conciliatory tone in asking them to back his campaign after previously supporting Smullen.
“Tough situations lead to tough disagreements. That’s life,” Constantino wrote. “I know some of you have disagreed with my methods and I have also disagreed with yours. But, that’s OK. We can still be friends, as my North Star is making life better for the people and as long as you help me do that any disagreements along the way do not matter to me.”
Constantino also made positive remarks about Smullen, despite the harsh attacks the two traded over the course of the campaign. He thanked Smullen for his military service.
“He didn’t make it easy. This was a fight, a very difficult fight,” Constantino said. “If I just got anointed, I wouldn’t have learned anything.”
Constantino will be facing Gendebien, who captured the Democratic nomination after staving off Amoriell in a much more subdued primary.
In a speech following his primary victory, Gendebien pledged to be a candidate who would work for all district residents, regardless of political affiliation. He spoke of various issues facing the district, such as higher costs of living and hospital closures.
“If you’re worried about the price of gas and groceries, I’m your candidate, and I will fight for you, because I know how that feels,” Gendebien said. “If you’re tired of politicians in Washington trading stocks and getting richer while you struggle to pay your bills, I am your candidate.”
Gendebien’s speech also included a dig at Constantino, though he didn’t mention his Republican opponent by name.
“They can choose another self-serving wannabe D.C. insider who thinks millions of dollars can buy a seat in Congress, someone who has always put his own interests first,” Gendebien said. “Or they can choose a farmer, someone who has spent his life working here, raising a family here, and fighting for our community.”
Constantino, borrowing a phrase from Trump, referred to Gendebien as a “bad hombre.”
“That’s the president’s words,” Constantino said. “But I’m probably going to keep using it.”
