Party Bosses Humiliated in NY-21

A Trump-endorsed outsider just steamrolled New York’s Republican establishment, sending a clear message to party insiders who ignored the America First base.

Story Snapshot

Anthony Constantino, a Trump-backed businessman, is projected to win the NY-21 Republican primary over establishment favorite Robert Smullen.^[1]^[2]
Constantino is the only Republican in the race with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, plus support from Rudy Giuliani and Congressman Jim Jordan.^[1]^[3]^[2]
Smullen had the backing of the New York Republican Party, most county committees, and major law enforcement groups, but still fell short.^[2]^[9]
The race shows GOP voters choosing a grassroots, Trump-aligned candidate over party insiders, with big implications for November and beyond.^[2]^[20]

Trump’s Chosen Candidate Overtakes the Party Machine

CBS News and the Associated Press project that businessman Anthony Constantino has defeated State Assemblyman Robert Smullen in the Republican primary for New York’s 21st Congressional District, the seat held by outgoing Representative Elise Stefanik.^[1]^[2]

Constantino, a political newcomer, led Smullen by roughly 18 percentage points with most precincts reporting, according to data from the state Board of Elections.^[2] This race drew national attention because it tested President Donald Trump’s influence against the institutional power of the state party.

Trump’s preferred candidate wins primary to succeed Elise Stefanik https://t.co/S12jEgRdfS

— POLITICO (@politico) June 24, 2026

Smullen entered the primary as the clear favorite of the party establishment. He serves in the New York State Assembly and has secured endorsements from the New York State Republican Party, 12 of 15 county Republican committees in the district, and the Conservative Party ballot line.^[2]^[9]

Debate coverage shows Smullen touting support from state troopers, police groups, and the Rifle and Pistol Association as proof that he was the “serious” candidate.^[9] Yet despite this backing, primary voters rallied around Constantino’s outsider message and strong loyalty to Trump.

Who Is Anthony Constantino? Business Builder and Trump Loyalist

Anthony Constantino built his reputation far from Albany’s political class, growing his sticker and custom-printing company, Sticker Mule, from a small start-up in 2010 into a global operation with around 1,000 employees.^[1]^[6]

Media profiles describe him as a brash, hard-edged entrepreneur who prides himself on self-funding his run so he owes no favors to lobbyists or party bosses.^[5]^[10]

In his own campaign messaging, Constantino pledged to donate his entire congressional salary to charity, presenting that promise as proof he is not entering politics to cash in.^[10]

Constantino’s bond with Trump is central to his campaign. After the 2024 assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Constantino erected a giant “Vote for Trump” sign atop his company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, New York, holding his ground against local pushback.^[1]^[5]^[8]

Trump later highlighted that sign on Truth Social, praising Constantino as “a great guy who will never let you down.”^[1]^[3] Constantino even presented Trump with a seven-foot bronze statue capturing the president raising his fist after the Butler attack, underscoring his deep personal loyalty.^[1]

Endorsements: Trump’s America First Network vs. Albany Insiders

Constantino campaigned as the only Republican in the NY-21 race endorsed directly by President Donald Trump.^[1] Trump’s message framed him as part of a wider America First team, noting that his bid was backed by “highly respected MAGA warriors” such as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and longtime Trump ally Roger Stone.^[3]^[4]

Reporting also shows that Congressman Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is a close Trump ally, became the first member of Congress to publicly endorse Constantino, signaling strong support from the pro-Trump wing in Washington.^[2]

Smullen, by contrast, leaned on institutional backing. Debate coverage records him pointing to endorsements from the New York State Republican Party, law enforcement unions, and gun rights organizations as proof that he represented traditional conservative values.^[9]

He also stressed his 24 years of Marine service, including combat tours in Afghanistan, as well as past appointments by Presidents George W. Bush and Trump to federal commissions.^[9]^[15]

But in this primary, that résumé could not overcome widespread grassroots frustration with party insiders who have failed to stop inflation, illegal immigration, and aggressive climate rules driving up energy costs.

Policy Clash: Border Security, Affordability, and Energy

Constantino tied his platform closely to Trump’s agenda on core issues like border security and the cost of living. Local coverage notes that he calls for ending what Republicans describe as illegal immigration and promises to focus on making life more affordable across the North Country.^[1]

He presents his business record, building an international company without government help, as proof he understands how rising taxes, regulations, and energy prices punish job creators and working families.^[1]^[6] His pledge to self-fund reinforces a message of independence from Washington’s spending habits.

Since I know this district and these numbers like the back of my hand…as @Redistrict says “I’ve seen enough”

—

Congratulations to @constantino on his overwhelming victory in today’s #NY21 Republican primary!

This was a hard fought election and the voters have spoken loudly…

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 24, 2026

Smullen’s positions sometimes overlapped with Constantino’s but came from a different angle. As a state lawmaker, he opposed New York’s Green New Deal and climate laws, urging more fracking and new pipelines to lower utility bills.^[9] That stance resonated with many who are tired of environmental rules that hit rural households hardest.

Yet the larger storyline in this race was not policy detail, but trust and alignment: voters had to decide whether to side with the state party’s chosen candidate or with Trump’s handpicked outsider promising to fight for them, not for Albany insiders.

What This Upset Means for Conservatives Nationwide

This primary adds another data point to a clear trend: Trump-endorsed candidates continue to win most Republican primaries when they face opponents seen as part of the old guard.

National reporting notes that Trump-backed candidates have prevailed or advanced in dozens of recent primaries, often defeating rival Republicans who fought or ignored his agenda.^[20]^[21]^[22]^[3]

The NY-21 race fits that pattern neatly, with Constantino overcoming heavy institutional resistance thanks to strong support from everyday voters who feel the party has not done enough to defend their wallets, their borders, and their freedoms.

At the same time, experts note that there are a few cases, such as a recent Iowa governor’s primary, where Republican voters rejected Trump’s preferred candidate, showing that his endorsement is powerful but not automatic.^[18]

That makes Constantino’s projected win even more important as a signal in 2026. In a district long represented by Elise Stefanik, who became a major Trump ally, GOP voters chose to keep that America First direction by elevating a businessman who put his money, his company, and even a giant sign on the line for the president. For conservatives worried about globalist elites and party insiders, NY-21 just sent a loud, clear warning shot.