Trump Bucks New York Republicans In Race To Replace Rep. Elise Stefanik

ALBANY, New York — President Donald Trump endorsed the CEO of a sticker company to fill outgoing Rep. Elise Stefanik’s House seat — a nod that’s at odds with the New York Republican Party.

Trump announced over social media Tuesday that he’s backing Republican Anthony Constantino over Assemblymember Robert Smullen, the preferred nominee of the New York GOP and the state Conservative Party.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Anthony Constantino, who is running to represent the fantastic people of New York’s 21st Congressional District,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The president’s backing for Constantino further complicates an already messy primary to succeed Stefanik, one of Trump’s most fervent congressional allies. The deep red district was expected to be a Republican layup in the midterm elections. But backlash to rising fuel costs and Trump’s tariffs have led some New York Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to become optimistic the party could pull off a November upset.

While Smullen has the support of institutional Republican leaders, Constantino has received endorsements from MAGA-world luminaries like former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He is also being advised by political operative Roger Stone, a Trump confidant.

Constantino, the CEO of Sticker Mule, gained prominence in the Albany area for erecting a large “Vote for Trump” sign that could be seen from a nearby interstate and won a battle with local officials who tried to force him to take it down.

“Anthony has been such a Great Supporter that he actually put up a somewhat ‘controversial’ sign, against strong opposition, in my honor,” Trump wrote in his endorsement. “The sign is still there!”

Constantino touted the president's backing as a sign of the strength of his candidacy.

"I had a great talk with President Trump and am honored to receive his endorsement," he said in a statement. "He noted every primary candidate he endorses wins so I look forward to winning the general election and making everyone who supported me very proud once I am in Congress.”

Trump’s endorsement is a major blow to Smullen, who has the institutional backing of Republican leaders in the largely rural House district that stretches from the Albany suburbs to the Canadian border while encompassing the Adirondack Park.

The president handily won the district in his three presidential campaigns and Stefanik has been an ardent Trump supporter.

After the president’s endorsement came out, Smullen spent over half an hour pacing the halls of the Capitol on his phone. As he hung up, his team put out a statement pointing to Constantino’s past support for Democrats “who voted to impeach President Trump. He has tried to reinvent himself overnight to buy a seat in Congress, but voters see through it.”

Smullen said in an interview he wasn’t surprised by the endorsement.

“He’s probably spent $4 million in this campaign so far. I’ve spent less than $200,000, and I’m still winning this campaign with the voters in NY-21 where it counts,” he said.

In a subsequent news conference he blamed Stone for misinforming the president.

“A consultant got to the president, somebody who is being paid by my opponent. And I think the president’s made a mistake here,” he said.

The assemblymember, a retired Marine colonel, said he was confident the endorsement wouldn’t impact his chances of winning.

“I’ll be on the ballot in November on the Conservative line and I’m confident that I’m going to win the Republican primary,” he said.

Yet Republicans will be desperate to avoid such a scenario. Memories run long of the 2009 special election to replace former GOP Rep. John McHugh in a previous version of the district. In that race, the Conservative Party, an influential right-leaning ballot line, endorsed Doug Hoffman over Republican Assemblymember Dede Scozzafava. That dynamic led to the election of Democratic Rep. Bill Owens, who held the seat until he retired in 2014.

Constantino’s brash style may be a hindrance to winning over Conservative Party leaders. The candidate, who has feuded with reporters and blasted Smullen as “Slime Bob," is being sued by the Conservative Party’s statewide chair Jerry Kassar for defamation.

The suit stems from Constantino’s claim last summer that Kassar threatened to kill him and may have attempted to murder a campaign press aide. Kassar has said he used a figure of speech in a conversation about political support.