ALBANY – President Trump made a blockbuster endorsement Tuesday in the GOP primary race to succeed North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
The president threw his weight behind ally Anthony Constantino, an eccentric upstate entrepreneur running against state Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R-Montgomery) in the June primary.
“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 TruthSocial.
“Anthony is strongly supported by many of our most Highly Respected MAGA warriors in our movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone!” he wrote.
“Anthony has been such a Great Supporter that he actually put up a somewhat ‘controversial’ sign, against strong opposition, in my honor. The sign is still there!” the president concluded, acknowledging the 200-foot pro-Trump sign Constantino erected atop his Montgomery County sticker manufacturer, sparking a legal battle in 2024.
The endorsement flies in the face of New York’s GOP establishment – including state party Chairman Ed Cox and 12 of the 15 Republican committees in the 21st district – who backed Smullen for the seat.
Speaking to reporters in the state capitol shortly after Trump dropped his announcement, Smullen accused Stone, the Trump world operative and a Constantino adviser, of duping the president into the rushed endorsement.
“A consultant got to the president, someone who is being paid by my opponent, and I think the president’s made a mistake,” Smullen said, arguing that Trump needs to hear “the facts.”
“My support is with the people who are actually in this district, not someone who has spent $4 million putting his name out there trying to buy a congressional seat,” the retired Marine colonel said, calling Constantino “mentally unfit.”
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Smullen has received the nomination of the Conservative Party, meaning he will appear on the general election ballot in November regardless of the outcome of June’s primary.
He said he would not rule out continuing to run on the third party line through November.
“I had a great talk with President Trump and am honored to receive his endorsement,” Constantino told The Post 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 Congress.”
