Trump Endorses Anthony Constantino in NY-21 Race, Bucking GOP Establishment

President Donald Trump has endorsed Anthony Constantino, CEO of sticker company Sticker Mule, in the race to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District, going against the preference of state Republican Party leaders who have backed Assemblyman Robert Smullen.

The endorsement, announced via Trump’s Truth Social platform on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, highlights Constantino’s vocal support for the former president, including his installation of a prominent pro-Trump sign that drew both attention and legal challenges during the 2024 campaign.

Trump’s Break with Party Leadership

Trump’s backing of Constantino represents a direct challenge to the established New York Republican apparatus. According to local reporting, state GOP chair, the Conservative Party, Republican legislators, and most county GOP committees in the district have rallied behind Robert Smullen, the current Assemblyman for the 118th District.

In his endorsement post, Trump praised Constantino as “strongly supported by many of the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in our Movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone!” He also referenced Constantino’s controversial pro-Trump signage, stating: “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 Sign That Sparked Controversy

The sign Trump referenced is a large electric display installed by Constantino on a building on Elk Street in Amsterdam, Montgomery County. Measuring 12 feet by 100 feet, the sign was erected during the 2024 presidential campaign. Local officials deemed it a traffic hazard and moved to have it covered, obtaining a restraining order from a state Supreme Court judge.

Despite the legal challenge, the order was later lifted, and the sign became a rallying point for Trump supporters during the height of the 2024 campaign, with hundreds gathering at the site to demonstrate their backing for the former president.

Constantino’s Campaign Launch and Funding

Constantino, who announced his congressional bid in November 2025, is the second Republican to enter the race for the open seat vacated by Stefanik, who is pursuing the New York governorship. He launched his campaign with a public event in front of the Sticker Mule headquarters in Amsterdam, featuring a performance of “God Bless America” and distribution of frozen turkeys to attendees.

The Sticker Mule CEO has committed to self-funding his campaign, having already contributed $5 million to his campaign account and stating he will spend “whatever it takes” to secure victory. This approach aligns with his broader message of political outsiderism, drawing a parallel to Trump’s own path to the presidency.

“The world is changing and we need political leaders that gain it. Instead, we’ve been stuck with dinosaurs whose top concern is often their next donor-funded meal,” Constantino said upon announcing his candidacy.

Context of the Open Seat

The NY-21 district, which covers a large portion of upstate New York including the Adirondack Mountains and Thousand Islands region, has been represented by Elise Stefanik since 2014. Her expected departure to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration triggered the open race.

While two Democratic candidates, Blake Gendebien and Dylan Hewitt, have already entered the contest, the Republican primary is shaping up to be a contest between Constantino’s outsider, self-funded approach and Smullen’s establishment-backed candidacy.

Significance of Trump’s Endorsement

Trump’s endorsements have historically played a significant role in Republican primary outcomes. His intervention in the NY-21 race introduces a significant variable into a contest that initially appeared to favor the party’s preferred candidate, potentially energizing the MAGA base while creating friction with traditional GOP power structures in the state.

The division within the New York Republican Party over this race underscores the ongoing influence of Trump’s movement within the GOP, even as establishment figures seek to maintain control over candidate selection in key districts.