The race for New York\u2019s 21st\u00a0Congressional District is a tight one, according to polls.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Vice President JD Vance was in Rome, New York to campaign for Republican candidate Anthony Constantino.<\/p>\n
Rome is the same place where Democratic candidate Blake Gendebien made his final pitch to voters over the weekend wrapping his \u201cHarvest the Vote Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rome is the largest city within the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to be a district to watch,\u201d said Carl Calabrese, a Republican political strategist. \u201cI think people on both sides of the aisle are going to be watching this as kind of a bellwether on how Congress may go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some strategists believe despite New York\u2019s 21st district being historically a GOP stronghold, the seat is vulnerable given the national landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe House is going to most likely go Democrat,\u201d said Calabrese. \u201cThe question is, what districts are going to swing?\u201d<\/p>\n
A Siena University poll of likely voters released last month has Gendebien leading Constantino 46% to 42%.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m self-funding to be nobody\u2019s man but yours in Congress,\u201d said Constantino following an interview after he cast his ballot in early voting. \u201cIt\u2019s a unique thing to do. I\u2019m going to fight for the people. I\u2019m going to fight for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Constantino, a businessman and CEO of Sticker Mule, which produces custom stickers, magnets, buttons and labels, is campaigning on an agenda that includes affordability, delivering fast internet and cell services and permanently securing the northern border.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to fight for our families because they\u2019re tired,\u201d said Gendebien during an interview with Spectrum News 1 in October. \u201cThey\u2019re tired of making the decision between food and fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gendebien a second-generation dairy farmer and small business owner of Twin Mill Farms is campaigning on lowering costs, improving access to rural healthcare, and building a guest worker program that allows immigrants to help meet the needs of livestock farmers and food processors while also securing the northern border.<\/p>\n
When asked what the likelihood is over Gendebien flipping the seat, Democratic strategist and former Democratic New York state Sen. David Carlucci said, \u201cI think if any year were possible for a Democrat to flip the seat, it\u2019s definitely this year. We see a national wave in terms of Democratic enthusiasm. We have an unpopular president.\u201d<\/p>\n