ALBANY, New York — President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the chaotic Republican primary to replace Representative Elise Stefanik has set up a new test of his influence in a deeply red House district, with New York GOP leaders refusing to fall in line.
Trump gave his coveted endorsement this week","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/21/trump-bucks-new-york-republicans-in-race-to-replace-elise-stefanik-00885217","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980008","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980009","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>prestigious endorsement this week Businessman Anthony Constantino, CEO of merchandising company Sticker Mule, who is waging an insurgent bid against Republican Assemblyman Robert Smullen – a favorite of the establishment.
Smullen, a retired Marine colonel, has lined up endorsements from Republican elected officials, county chairmen and state party leaders. By contrast, Constantino has relied on celebrity MAGA figures such as Roger Stone and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani – both of whom Trump name-checked in his Truth Social post announcing his endorsement.
Although Trump’s endorsement is often decisive in the GOP primary, Smullen’s supporters are deepening divisions and raising the stakes in the fight to replace Stefanik as Democrats look closer for a pickup opportunity.
“We’re big supporters of the president,” said Jerry Cassar, chairman of the New York Conservative Party. “We just feel he made a mistake in this case.”
Kasar, who is suing constantino","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.dailygazette.com/ade/news/local_news/conservative-party-chair-sues-over-death-threat-allegations/article_012c6469-a888-5c40-b6c4-c388cfed4b03.html","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000a","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000b","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>who is suing constantino for defamation candidate’s allegationsAfter","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/conservative-party-leader-accuses-constantino-20389495.php","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000c","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000d","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>After the candidate’s allegations The party leader threatened to kill him and attempted to assassinate a press aide, saying he had talked about Smullen’s candidacy to the White House to convince the president to support his candidate. Those requests did not work.
“We may be fighting an uphill battle on this,” Kassar said.
Constantino is not bothered by the lack of institutional support, saying in an interview that Republican leaders are surprised by the support he has received from Trump.
“These swamp creatures are embarrassing themselves,” he said. “They’ll probably wise up over the next few days and weeks.”
The primary contest is being played in a vast and largely rural North Country House district, which Trump won in each of his presidential campaigns. Stefanik has represented the district for more than a decade and has emerged as a staunch supporter of the president. Influential Republican House members are retiring this year and are far from fighting to replace them.
In that power vacuum, Constantino is challenging a favored party with a fiery, no-holds-barred campaign. He called Smullen “Slime Bob”. clashed with journalists","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://kentingley.substack.com/p/meet-anthony-constantino-a-candidate","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000e","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c098000f","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>clashed with journalists Who have written critically about his candidacy. In return, Smullen sold Stickler Mule products.has overtaken","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/02/06/separating-the-art-from-the-artist-in-ny-21-00768506","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980010","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980011","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Sticker Mule Products Have Knocked OutIncluding some nasty stickers featuring Trump.
In a statement, Smullen said he has “the utmost respect” for the president and is committed to his America First agenda. He attacked Constantino as “a fraud, plain and simple” who is “morally unfit” to be in Congress.
“You can’t pretend to be a conservative overnight or buy a seat in Congress,” Smullen said. “Voters understand this.”
And Smullen is benefiting from his connections to established Republicans. New York’s GOP House delegation will host a fundraiser for them in Washington next week — an event that also includes Mark Molinaro, a former Trump administration official who is now running for state Assembly. Smullen is also scheduled to appear at a fundraiser this weekend with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the GOP gubernatorial candidate whom Trump endorsed.
“It’s important for North Country voters and the people of the district to choose their candidates and that’s what the primaries are for,” said Clinton County Republican Chairwoman Jerrica Manning. “And I think the overwhelming support of the majority of Republicans in the district goes to Assemblyman Smullen.”
But in the Trump era, direct institutional ties could adversely affect Republicans running without the support of the most influential GOP endorser of them all: the president himself.
“They are disrespecting the president’s wishes,” Constantino said. “The President stands with the citizens.”
Republicans want to avoid a repeat of 2009, when Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman split support with Republican Dede Scozzafava, leading to Democrat Bill Owens’ victory in the congressional race. Smullen holds the Conservative Party ballot, which he has not ruled out taking in the general election. As a result, Democrats are viewing the district as a long-term opportunity, especially if such a scenario plays out after the June primary.
Flipping the seat will remain a difficult task for Democrats, but some party officials believe the combination of Trump’s tariffs, increased fuel prices and a divided Republican Party will be beneficial.
Smullen’s campaign released a poll – conducted before Trump’s endorsement – that showed he 10 points ahead of Constantino","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2047080401944924262","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980012","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980013","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>10 points ahead of Constantino. (Constantino’s expedition began its own survey).","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/02/13/stefaniks-successor-sticker-mule-anthony-constantino-money-00781503","_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980014","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-bec0-d930-a7fd-bfd9c0980015","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>its own survey Showing a huge lead for their candidate in February.)
“He’s clearly doing something right instead of focusing on all the noise,” a New York Republican operative who was not involved in either campaign and was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the dynamics of the race said of Smullen. “If he can continue to do that he can be successful.”
Still, some local Republican leaders who haven’t endorsed either candidate are waiting to see what Stefanik will do — believing her endorsement may be the only endorsement that could make the biggest difference.
“It probably means as much as an endorsement of the president,” said Saratoga County Republican Chairman Joe Suhrda. “I actually think Elise Stefanik’s endorsement will mean the most in the district.”
