Sticker tycoon Constantino claims win in NY-21 with 6,000 vote lead

Anthony Constantino leads Michael Gendebien by approximately 6,000 votes in New York's 21st Congressional District as of Wednesday night. This margin persists despite thousands of ballots remaining uncounted across the North Country. The race follows the departure of former Representative Elise Stefanik. Constantino, who operates the sticker company Sticker Mule, declared victory on Tuesday night. He has not yet secured the official certification required to take office.

The 21st District has historically favored Republican candidates. This election marks the closest margin the district has seen in years. Gendebien noted that his campaign achieved the strongest Democratic showing in the region in a decade. He cited record turnout from residents who had previously skipped multiple elections. "We are closer than any other Democrat has been in a decade, and we helped to inspire record turnout with neighbors who sat out election after election and decided this one was worth winning," Gendebien said.

Turnout in the district reached 55 percent. This figure represents a 5 percent drop compared to the 2022 election. Data indicates that six counties within the district voted for the Democratic candidate. Franklin, Essex, and Clinton counties among those turning blue. The shift was not sufficient to close the gap in favor of Gendebien. Harvey Schantz, a political science professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, assessed the current standing of the candidates. "As of now, it seems that Anthony Constantino is in the catbird seat," Schantz said.

Constantino acknowledged the difficulty of the campaign for his employees during his victory speech. He expressed gratitude to the staff at Sticker Mule for their support. "I know it has been very difficult for the company, but I think we did the right thing for the country, for America, for the world, and we should be proud of what we did," Constantino stated. He described the election as an adventure that involved personal sacrifice for the broader national interest.

The celebration turned contentious in the early hours of Wednesday. Constantino addressed the media in a speech that included profanity. He directed his criticism at what he termed the evil news media. He specifically targeted Garrett Domblewski, a reporter for WWNY. Domblewski said Constantino had shaken his hand earlier in the evening. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes later, Constantino pointed at Domblewski and ordered the news crew to leave the venue. "Get him out. Get him out right now. Kick him out. Kick him out. Kick him out," Constantino said.

Gendebien had not conceded the race as of Wednesday night. The final tally depends on the remaining ballots in the North Country. The outcome will determine who represents the district in Congress following Stefanik's exit from the House.