Custom sticker company Sticker Mule CEO Robert Constantino declared victory for the Republican nomination in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District as state Assemblyman Robert Smullen conceded in Tuesday’s primary elections.
The Amsterdam-based businessman’s victory would mark the latest win for President Donald Trump’s backed candidates, denying the state lawmaker backed by the GOP establishment the chance of being the party’s standard bearer for the northern New York district.
As of the latest unofficial results, Constantino had 58% of the vote to Smullen’s 41%, with 61% of the estimated vote counted. The Associated Press had yet to declare Constantino the winner as of 10:15 p.m.
Constantino would face Democratic nominee dairy farmer Blake Gendebien in the general election in November.
Smullen had been backed by much of the GOP apparatus, being endorsed by the state Republican Party, state Conservative Party, fellow members of the state Legislature and various local GOP officials. Trump, however, in April endorsed Constantino, making reference to a large pro-Donald Trump electric sign that Constantino placed on top of a building on Elk Street in Amsterdam, in Montgomery County, during the 2024 presidential campaign. The city said the 12-foot-by-100 sign was a dangerous distraction that would impact traffic flow and took action to have the sign covered. A restraining order put in place by a state Supreme Court judge was lifted and hundreds of Trump supporters rallied at the scene of the sign during the height of the presidential campaign to show their support.
The president’s heavy hand in primary races has often, but not always, been crucial to their campaigns’ success in recent years.
Smullen will still appear on the general election ballot on the Conservative Party line. Whether he actively campaigns remains to be seen.
The 21st Congressional District is made up of most of the North Country and parts of the greater Capital Region and Mohawk Valley. It is being vacated by Stefanik, who briefly ran for governor, but dropped that bid and decided not to seek reelection to her House seat either after 12 years in Congress.
Election Day is Nov. 3.