Anthony Constantino, the founder and CEO of custom printing company Sticker Mule, entered the race as a political newcomer with no previous experience in elected office. He instead emphasized his business career, personal wealth and support for President Donald Trump. His unconventional campaign has attracted national attention as well as a number of controversies.
So, who is Anthony Constantino, what does he believe and what could voters expect from him in Congress?
EARLY LIFE
Anthony Constantino was born on Oct. 30, 1982, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York. His father, Tom Constantino, ran Noteworthy, an Amsterdam-based family business that manufactured promotional products including plastic and paper bags. Constantino’s father died when he was 8 years old.
Constantino did not attend public school and instead went to Albany Academy. Constantino has noted that he found the typical students there to be obnoxious, but he connected closely with kids from diverse backgrounds who had been recruited by the school’s athletic director. Despite his mixed feelings about the social environment, he credits the school with giving him a solid education and later built Sticker Mule alongside several of his high school friends.
After high school, Constantino attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). During the summer of his sophomore year, an employee from his late father’s company, which was facing virtual bankruptcy at the time, reached out for his help. Constantino accepted and ran the organization while working on his degree at the same time. However, he did not ultimately graduate from RPI. He has said he left the school one class short of completing his degree as he became increasingly involved in running the business. Constantino described his abrupt entry into the printing industry as “trial by fire.”
BUSINESS CAREER
Anthony Constantino was born on Oct. 30, 1982, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York. His father, Tom Constantino, ran Noteworthy, an Amsterdam-based family business that manufactured promotional products including plastic and paper bags. Constantino’s father died when he was 8 years old.
Constantino did not attend public school and instead went to Albany Academy. Constantino has noted that he found the typical students there to be obnoxious, but he connected closely with kids from diverse backgrounds who had been recruited by the school’s athletic director. Despite his mixed feelings about the social environment, he credits the school with giving him a solid education and later built Sticker Mule alongside several of his high school friends.
After high school, Constantino attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). During the summer of his sophomore year, an employee from his late father’s company, which was facing virtual bankruptcy at the time, reached out for his help. Constantino accepted and ran the organization while working on his degree at the same time. However, he did not ultimately graduate from RPI. He has said he left the school one class short of completing his degree as he became increasingly involved in running the business. Constantino described his abrupt entry into the printing industry as “trial by fire.”
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
Constantino’s campaign has leaned heavily on his identity as a businessman and political outsider. He has also largely self-funded his campaign. Federal Election Commission records show that he had loaned his campaign $12 million as of June 30, 2026.
Constantino entered the Republican primary against state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, who initially enjoyed considerably more support from the party establishment.
Smullen received the endorsement of the New York Republican Party, the state Conservative Party and 12 of the district’s 15 GOP committees, making him the more traditional Republican and Conservative Party candidate.
To overcome the state GOP establishment, Constantino heavily courted Donald Trump. He erected a massive “Vote for Trump” sign on his factory roof, released a pro-Trump song (see below) and presented Trump with a 7-foot bronze statue commemorating the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt.
President Trump endorsed Constantino on April 21, 2026, writing that Constantino had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
The endorsement gave Constantino a major national boost, although it is difficult to determine precisely how much it changed the race.
On June 23, Constantino defeated Smullen in the Republican primary, winning approximately 58.5% of the vote to Smullen’s 39.8%.
[Put in Primary]
Looking toward the Nov. 3 general election, polling shows Constantino leading Gendebien 53% to 40%. Such a result would also be consistent with recent history, as NY-21 has voted reliably Republican since 2014, when Republican Elise Stefanik won 55%-34%-11% against Democrat Aaron G. Woolf and Green Party candidate Matthew J. Funiciello. For reference, Stefanik won 62%-38% in the 2024 election.
WHAT DOES CONSTANTINO BELIEVE?
Constantino’s policy platform closely aligns with President Trump’s agenda, but it also places a significant emphasis on manufacturing, technology and issues specific to rural northern New York.
Economy and manufacturing: Constantino argues that government regulations are contributing to higher costs for businesses and consumers and says he would work to eliminate regulations he considers unnecessary. More recently, he has placed a particular emphasis on bringing manufacturing back to the United States. Constantino argues that increased automation and investment in domestic manufacturing can create jobs while reducing American dependence on foreign production, particularly from China. He also supports Trump’s use of tariffs, describing them as a negotiating tool that can be used to achieve broader economic and foreign-policy goals.
Northern border and immigration: Constantino says one of his priorities would be permanently securing the U.S.-Canada border. His campaign says stronger enforcement is needed to prevent illegal immigration as well as the movement of drugs, criminals and other security threats across the northern border.
Internet access and jobs: Constantino frequently identifies unreliable internet and cellular service as a major problem in the North Country. He argues that expanding high-speed internet and cell coverage could make remote work more accessible, encourage technology companies to locate in the district and allow residents to start internet-based businesses without leaving the region. He has also said he supports completing a proposed missile-defense system at Fort Drum, which he argues would strengthen the military installation while creating jobs.
Agriculture: Constantino says he wants a federal farm bill that treats farms more equally and has called for reducing agricultural regulations. He has also proposed encouraging technology that would make it easier for farmers to sell products directly to consumers. Constantino opposes what he describes as taxpayer-subsidized solar development on farmland.
Energy and regulation: Constantino says he would support Trump’s energy policies and reduce environmental and business regulations that he believes contribute to higher utility and consumer prices.
Social Security: Constantino has said he would protect Social Security benefits and oppose taxes on Social Security income.
Gun and free-speech rights: His campaign says he would fight to expand or restore protections under the First and Second Amendments, arguing that New York has imposed excessive restrictions on gun ownership.
Constantino’s published campaign materials are more detailed on these topics than on some other major national issues. As of August 2026, his public issue pages do not provide similarly comprehensive positions on subjects such as abortion or the broader future of the U.S. healthcare system.
CONTROVERSIES AND CRITICISM
Constantino’s business career and political campaign have included several incidents that have attracted criticism and national attention.
Disability-rights criticism over 2024 video
In August 2026, disability-rights advocates called on Constantino to apologize over a promotional video filmed two years earlier with disabled comedian and internet personality Ricky Berwick.
In the video, Berwick displays Sticker Mule products labeled as “R-word passes.” During an exchange between the two men, Constantino uses the term himself.
The New York State Association on Independent Living and affiliated groups called for the video to be removed and for Constantino to apologize.
Constantino defended his relationship with Berwick, saying he considers the comedian a friend and arguing that criticism of their collaboration was politically motivated. Berwick also defended Constantino.
The Sticker Mule “Trump 2024” email
Following the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Constantino sent an email with the subject line “Trump 2024” to Sticker Mule customers.
The message called for an end to political hatred and said Constantino supported Trump. It also promoted a discounted $4 T-shirt and encouraged customers to purchase one demonstrating support for the future president.
The use of Sticker Mule’s customer mailing list for political advocacy triggered significant online backlash.
Constantino later said the company’s customer-support workers received hate mail and death threats as a result of the controversy. He gave each of the company’s 79 support employees a $2,500 bonus for dealing with the response.
Andrew Tate products
Sticker Mule has also faced criticism for allowing products associated with controversial internet personality Andrew Tate to remain available through its marketplace.
Constantino defended the decision in 2026, noting that Tate was one of tens of thousands of people operating stores on the platform and arguing that Sticker Mule should not remove users simply because they are controversial or face criminal allegations.
Constantino framed the issue as a question of free expression and the presumption of innocence rather than an endorsement of Tate himself.
Removal from a Republican committee meeting
During the Republican primary in February 2026, Constantino was escorted out of a St. Lawrence County Republican Committee meeting following a confrontation with Smullen.
After Smullen opened the floor to questions from committee members, Constantino interrupted and repeatedly accused his opponent of lying.
Committee Chairwoman Nancy Martin attempted to restore order before St. Lawrence County Sheriff Patrick Engle, who was attending the meeting as a Republican Party member, escorted Constantino from the room.
Constantino later argued that he had simply attempted to challenge what he considered false statements by Smullen. Committee officials described his conduct as disruptive.
AI-generated video of Blake Gendebien
In August 2026, Constantino released an AI-generated campaign video depicting Democratic opponent Blake Gendebien appearing to make statements that Gendebien never actually made.
The video reproduced Gendebien’s appearance and voice using artificial intelligence. Unlike a conventional edited clip, the words themselves were generated.
WCAX reported that the video included a disclosure at the top indicating that it was AI-generated. Harvey Schantz, a political science professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, told the station that the disclosure appeared to satisfy New York’s requirements for AI-generated political advertisements.
Constantino said he created the video in response to an AI-generated video released by Gendebien’s campaign in 2025 targeting Rep. Elise Stefanik. Gendebien has described his campaign’s earlier video as obvious satire and argued that Constantino’s more realistic depiction went significantly further.
The episode has become part of a broader debate over how artificial intelligence should be used and disclosed in political advertising.
CONTROVERSIES AND CRITICISM
Anthony Constantino’s transition from a business executive and political newcomer to a major self-funded contender has brought significant regional and national focus to the district. To track ongoing updates, campaign disclosures, and further details regarding the race, readers can consult resources such as the Ballotpedia New York 21st Congressional District Election Page or review independent tracking on City & State New York.
