The field of candidates to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st District is wide open after the North Country congresswoman officially launched a 2026 bid for governor Friday. 

Stefanik’s gubernatorial challenge against Gov. Kathy Hochul means she’s officially leaving Congress after a decade in power.

Several people are campaigning for the seat or exploring the possibility, as others who made a short list this past winter for a special election that never happened have decided not to run. President Donald Trump in March pulled Stefanik’s nomination to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations to keep Republicans’ slim House majority.

A growing list of North Country Republicans and Democrats say they’re ready to take Stefanik’s place in Congress — initiating a lively primary season for NY-21 voters next June.

Who’s already running:

Two Democrats have campaigned for months in preparation for next year’s race to represent the 21st District, and see an opportunity to take back the seat. Both were top contenders to be the Democratic nominee if Stefanik had been confirmed as Trump’s U.N. ambassador.

Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from Lisbon, St. Lawrence County

Gendebien topped the list of Democrats to run for the seat earlier this year. He leads other candidates with over $3.6 million in his campaign war chest, and over $2 million cash on hand.

“The problems that we’re facing, affordability, cuts to health care, supporting our veterans and seniors and supporting our farmers, they are not partisan issues,” he said Friday. “They’re issues that both sides of the aisle need to work on and that’s what I’m focused on doing.”

Gendebien’s campaign is centered on supporting farmers, securing the northern border and making the district more affordable.

Dylan Hewitt, a former White House trade official for Joe Biden’s administration

Hewitt said Tuesday’s election results showed people are hungry for a new generation of leadership.

“We need to end reckless tariffs, give families a living wage, guarantee universal health care and child care — the real resources that our families need to live a life of dignity and thrive,” he told Spectrum News 1.

Hewitt kicked off his 2026 campaign Sept. 3 in anticipation of Stefanik’s exit from Congress.

No Republican candidates have officially started campaigning or collecting donations to keep the House seat.

Who’s considering a run:
Republicans

Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie

Assemblyman Chris Tague was a favorite NY-21 candidate earlier this year, but is weighing his options for 2026. 

He must decide if he wants to run for the congressional seat, or replace NY-19 candidate Pete Oberacker in the state Senate.

“What my family thinks… That’s going to be a big part of it,” Tague said Friday. “But I’m also going to look at where I would be able to help Elise the most and our statewide candidates.”

Tague said he’ll make a decision by early December.

State Republican party leaders support his decision to run in either race.

“Assemblyman Tague is a leader in our party and a fierce debater on the Assembly floor,” N.Y. GOP spokesman David Laska said in a statement. “He would make an outstanding candidate for the [state] Assembly, Senate or Congress.”

Republican Josh Parker, a businessman from St. Lawrence County, is seriously considering a NY-21 campaign.

His former company Parker’s Maple was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2016. He was close friends with the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was the best man at his wedding.

“In the hours since the congresswoman’s announcement, Josh has heard from a flood of community and business leaders across New York’s 21st District — many of whom he’s known for years — as well as from local and national leaders at Turning Point USA all encouraging him to run for the congressional seat,” Republican adviser Dave Catalfamo said. “He’s humbled and encouraged by their support and shares the view that our next representative must continue Congresswoman Stefanik’s focus on strengthening the North Country’s economy and supporting its families.”

Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino

Constantino, known for a sign backing Trump that went viral last year, said he’ll make a decision to run for NY-21 by the end of the month.

“Today’s about Elise — we have to make New York red,” Constantino said Friday. “We need someone to replace with a strong track record of success. I am honored to have the support of the people. I’ll make my plans known within the next two weeks.”

State Conservative Party chair Gerard Kassar sued Constantino in August alleging he made defamatory claims that the party chair threatened to kill him.

Democrats

Bridie Farrell, 2022 NY-21 candidate; former speedskater

Bridie Farrell, a former speedskater and Child Victims Act advocate ran against Stefanik in 2022.

Farrell said she is considering entering the Democratic primary, but has not made a final decision. 

“Stefanik and Trump are wrong for New York and I will definitely do what I can to stop their harmful agenda whether I run or not,” she said.

Who’s out:
Republicans

State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury
State Sen. Mark Walczyk, R-Watertown

North Country state Sens. Dan Stec and Mark Walcyzk said they want to stay in Albany to support Stefanik if she becomes governor.

Stec endorsed Stefanik for governor early Friday morning and announced he’s seeking reelection next year.

“Working with a Republican governor, and specifically, working with Elise Stefanik in the governor’s office, is very attractive to me,” Stec said Friday. I want to be a part of that and stay in the state Senate and work with her there. I want to be part of the Save New York team.”

Liz Joy, NY-20 congressional candidate in 2020 and 2022

Liz Joy is not running for NY-21 next year after she was elected chair of the Schenectady County Republican Committee on Sept. 22 — making a two-year committment to fundraise and expand the local party’s base. 

“I had a long conversation with Elise and I let her know I would not be running for NY-21, and that we were going to concentrate on everything that we could to help her.” she told Spectrum News 1. “And she’s going to help us. So it’s going to be a wide open primary.”

Joy twice ran against and was defeated by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-20.

Democrats

Both Democrats who Stefanik defeated in 2022 and 2024 do not plan to run in NY-21 this time around.

Matt Castelli, 2022 NY-21 candidate

Matt Castelli, a former CIA intelligence officer, said he’ll be working to help elect Democrats in the state instead of his own congressional run.

“The people of upstate New York and the North Country have a chance to turn the page on Stefanik — an absentee representative who was the deciding vote to help Trump rip away their health care, force millions of New Yorkers to go hungry and skyrocket costs for hard-working families,” Castelli said in a statement. “I will help ensure that every New Yorker understands that Stefanik is a fraud and the very worst of D.C. politicians that only cares about her future, not theirs.”

Castelli served as the director for counterterrorism in President Barack Obama’s National Security Council, and continued in the role during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Paula Collins, 2024 NY-21 candidate

Paula Collins, a former cannabis tax attorney from New York City, was one of four Democratic candidates to be considered this past winter for the anticipated special election that didn’t happen. 

Collins doesn’t plan to run in 2026, and said she’s supporting Democrat Dylan Hewitt in next year’s primary.

Candidates can gather signatures to run starting in February, and will officially file to run by the first week of April, according to the state Board of Elections.

Multiple North Country party chairs, both Democrats and Republicans, said they do not plan to endorse a candidate for NY-21 and will leave the decision up to voters next June.

Stefanik’s office declined to comment.