Trump-Backed Anthony Constantino Wins GOP Primary For New York's 21st
Anthony Constantino, backed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for New York's 21st Congressional District on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik.[1]
Constantino is the head of Sticker Mule.[1] He publicly showcased support for Trump by placing a massive "Vote For Trump" sign atop a company building and releasing a pro-Trump hip-hop album.[1] He also commissioned a Trump statue that he gifted to the president in Florida.[1] His primary opponent, Assemblymember Robert Smullen, said Constantino's public antics and frequent criticism of the state GOP made him unfit for House service.[1] CBS News also reported the primary result.[2]
In November 2025, Rep. Elise Stefanik announced a bid for New York governor and later said she would not seek reelection to her House seat. Stefanik's decision opened a competitive GOP primary in the sprawling upstate district, where Constantino, who explored a run as early as November 2024, faced Assemblymember Robert Smullen. Smullen had the backing of state party leaders and local officials while Trump threw his support behind Constantino, setting up a clash between the party establishment and Trump allies.
Supporters on social media hailed the result as a landslide victory for Trump-aligned candidates, while some Republicans questioned whether the endorsement was paid for or politically timed.
The mainstream summary frames Constantino's victory primarily as a straightforward endorsement by Trump, but it overlooks the broader implications of this primary result. Political scientist Daniel Butler's research indicates that the rise of Trump-aligned candidates is tied to a significant shift within the Republican Party, where disenfranchised moderate Republicans are less likely to participate in primaries, thereby empowering Trump supporters and outsiders like Constantino over establishment candidates. This context suggests that Constantino's win is not merely a personal triumph but part of a larger trend of populism and realignment within the GOP that could reshape the party's future direction.
Additionally, while the summary mentions criticism from Constantino's opponent regarding his antics, it does not delve into the skepticism expressed by some within the GOP about the nature of Trump's endorsement, including questions about whether it was politically timed or financially motivated. This skepticism reflects a division within the party that the mainstream account does not fully capture, highlighting ongoing tensions between traditional Republican values and the populist wave represented by Constantino's candidacy.[3][4]
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📊 Relevant Data
New York's 21st Congressional District is home to approximately 767,674 to 770,419 residents.
Congressional District 21, NY — Data USA / Census Reporter
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, PBS/AP reconfirmed that Anthony Constantino won the Republican primary in New York's 21st Congressional District to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik (Anthony Constantino).
- Constantino, who is head of Sticker Mule, has publicly showcased his support for Donald Trump by placing a massive "Vote For Trump" sign atop one of his company buildings, releasing a pro-Trump hip-hop album titled "Thank You President Trump," and commissioning a Trump statue he gifted to the president in Florida (Thank You President Trump).
- Assembly Member Robert Smullen, Constantino's GOP primary opponent, argued that Constantino's public antics and frequent criticism of the state GOP made him unfit for House service (Robert Smullen).
- The report was published by PBS News on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:50 PM (Central) (PBS News).
- The details above were reported in the PBS News article titled "Mamdani slate sweeps Democratic primaries in New York, ousts 2 incumbents from Congress" (Mamdani slate sweeps Democratic primaries in New York, ousts 2 incumbents from Congress).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- PBS/AP reconfirms that Anthony Constantino, head of Sticker Mule, won the Republican primary in New York's 21st Congressional District on June 23, 2026, to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik.
- It adds detail that Constantino had previously showcased his support for Donald Trump by placing a massive "Vote For Trump" sign atop one of his company buildings, releasing a pro-Trump hip-hop album titled "Thank You President Trump," and commissioning a Trump statue he gifted to the president in Florida.
- The article reports that Constantino's opponent, Assembly Member Robert Smullen, argued that Constantino's public antics and frequent criticism of the state GOP made him unfit for House service.