PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – Campaign season is underway as Republican candidates compete for Elise Stefanik’s former congressional seat representing New York’s North Country. There is a two-way Republican primary between Assemblyman Robert Smullen and businessman Anthony Constantino.
Constantino says he’s a loyal Trump supporter who wants to help advance the president’s agenda in a Congress that’s operating on a slim Republican majority. He says he believes the North Country is ready for a political outsider.
“I got a lot of opinions politically, and I don’t like to sit on the sidelines and complain about things. I like to get involved and make the world a better place,” Constantino said.
Constantino grew up in the Albany area and even attended high school with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. He says he’s always been a businessman, first with his family and then later, as the founder of Sticker Mule, a printing company known for novelty T-shirts and coasters, that took a very public political stance on Trump in 2024. It’s a money mindset that he says he wants to bring to Washington.
“I want to focus on putting more money into people’s pockets by only supporting legislation that does just that. Special interests won’t influence me in any way because I have no donors at all,” Constantino said.
As a business owner, Constantino says he recognizes the need for foreign workers but agrees with Trump’s immigration crackdown. “The job of the American politician is to support the American people, and we want immigration to be legal. It is better for our country, it is better for our world,” Constantino said.
When asked if he would like to see any changes in the legal pathway to citizenship, Constantino said the process is chaotic. “We should give it an upgrade, make it more streamlined,” he said.
While Constantino has earned the stamp of approval from President Trump, state Republican and conservative leaders instead support his challenger, state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, a choice he believes wasn’t made in the interest of voters.
“These are a small list of people that like to hold onto power for themselves, and once I win, they know their power is going to be maybe in jeopardy. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is the citizens and that we are able to help the citizens. So, they are fighting for themselves, I am fighting for the citizens,” Constantino said.
Much like his opponent, Constantino wouldn’t say whether he would run under a different party in the general election if he loses the June 23 primary.
