GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. — In upstate New York, a Republican congressional candidate is taking his support for President Donald Trump to extraordinary lengths that go far beyond typical political endorsements.
Anthony Constantino, a first-time political candidate competing in the June 23 Republican primary to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik, has displayed a massive “Vote for Trump” sign on top of his successful sticker company in Amsterdam. He produced a hip-hop record called “Thank you President Trump” and personally presented Trump with a large bronze sculpture of the former president at his West Palm Beach golf course last year.
While Constantino’s dramatic gestures haven’t impressed local party leaders, who are overwhelmingly backing his rival, state Assembly Member Robert Smullen, in the 21st Congressional District contest, he has secured support from one influential Republican who can still influence primary outcomes: Trump himself.
“Anthony is strongly supported by many of the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in our Movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone!” Trump wrote in an endorsement of Constantino.
The president added: “The sign is still there!”
The contest between Constantino and Smullen, a former U.S. Marine Corps colonel, represents another examination of Trump’s influence in primary elections, matching an aggressive MAGA supporter against a more conventional conservative in this solidly Republican district.
Constantino has continuously criticized Smullen, labeling him a “Trump hater” and using a Trump-style disparaging nickname — “Slimebob.” He also frequently clashes with the state’s Republican leadership.
“The New York GOP is a failing establishment, it’s a losing establishment,” Constantino said in an interview. “They reject outsiders. This happened with Donald Trump. The Republican Party tried to keep Donald Trump out, as well, because they knew he was going to reform things.”
Smullen has positioned himself as the mature candidate, emphasizing his state Legislature experience, military background, and his own connections to Trump.
“I think I directly represent the vast majority of the people in this district, their values, what they think about issues,” he said.
The predominantly rural district covers most of New York’s northern region and encompasses the Adirondack Mountains, the U.S. Army’s Fort Drum, dairy operations and numerous small communities.
It’s firmly Republican territory — Stefanik won her most recent election by 24 points — with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats 215,000 to 134,000. The voter base tends to be older and white, including many correctional officers, law enforcement personnel, agricultural workers and deeply religious residents, according to Jack McGuire, an associate professor of politics at the State University of New York at Potsdam.
“It’s not your country club Republican party,” he said.
Stefanik surprised New York’s political establishment when she announced late last year that she was pausing her gubernatorial campaign and wouldn’t seek House reelection.
Her announcement followed lukewarm support from Trump in the governor’s race and came after an incident where Trump retracted her nomination as his United Nations ambassador due to concerns about Republicans’ narrow House majority.
Local Republicans initially began positioning themselves for the seat after she was selected for the UN role, then regrouped when she entered the gubernatorial race.
Smullen, who serves portions of the district in the state Assembly, is conducting a conventional campaign, engaging with constituents at volunteer fire departments and community gatherings.
He emphasizes his 24-year military service that included three Afghanistan deployments and combat duty, plus over seven years in the state Legislature. His 2018 selection by Trump for the White House Fellows program and attendance at both Trump inaugurations became his standard response when Constantino attempted to position himself as the Trump candidate during a recent debate.
“The idea that I have never been a supporter of President Donald Trump is a lie, it really is,” Smullen said during the debate. “And what’s happening here is that if you say it long enough and if you say it hard enough then it’s going to be true. But it’s not true.”
Local GOP officials and committees are supporting Smullen, along with the state Republican chair. He also has backing from the state Conservative Party, which ensures him a general election ballot line even if he loses the GOP primary.
Matt Capano, who operates a hardware business in Gloversville, a small community in the district, said he knows Smullen as his local state representative and had to “give him a lot of credit” due to his experience.
Constantino — who achieved success with his business Sticker Mule — displays more theatrical tendencies. His approach has compelled his more reserved opponent to become more aggressive. Smullen’s campaign created an anti-Constantino website that criticizes him for various issues, including his previous Democratic party registration.
“I am the conservative Republican in this race,” Smullen stated at the debate.
Constantino explained that he registered as a Democrat to support a childhood friend’s political campaign while describing himself as a “lifelong conservative.”
He quickly redirected the discussion back to the president.
“I’ve always had his back through the whole thing,” he said of Trump. “In fact, in 2020, when he nicely exited the White House and a terrible person named Joe Biden entered, I went and I supported the president quietly by buying a Mar-a-Lago membership.”
