A Trump-endorsed businessman just toppled the party favorite in upstate New York, sending a loud message that the Republican grassroots are no longer taking orders from the establishment.
Story Snapshot
- Trump-backed outsider Anthony Constantino defeated establishment favorite Robert Smullen in the NY-21 Republican primary.[1][5]
- Constantino’s victory shows Republican voters still rally behind Trump’s America First agenda over party elites.[3][20]
- Smullen had deep support from the state Republican Party and most county committees but could not overcome Constantino’s grassroots appeal.[2][6]
- The race highlights a growing split between Trump loyalists and institutional Republicans ahead of the fall elections.[2][3][6]
Trump Loyalist Outsider Tops Party Favorite
Anthony Constantino, a businessman and political newcomer, won the Republican primary in New York’s 21st Congressional District, beating State Assemblyman Robert Smullen in a race to replace Representative Elise Stefanik.[1][5] Constantino ran as the only Republican in the field with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, while Smullen enjoyed backing from the state Republican Party and most local leaders.[1][2] Voters in this solid red district chose Trump’s ally over the candidate preferred by party insiders, underscoring where their loyalty still rests.[3][20]
The primary was closely watched nationwide as a test of Trump’s influence over the modern Republican Party.[3][6] National outlets framed the contest as a clash between a “Trump-backed outsider” and a more traditional Republican with strong institutional support, reflecting deep tensions inside the party.[2][3][6] Constantino’s win adds to a long list of Trump-endorsed candidates who have prevailed in primaries against critics or hesitant allies, continuing a pattern where Trump’s base punishes Republicans seen as weak on his agenda.[20][21]
Who Is Anthony Constantino?
Anthony Constantino built his reputation not in politics but in business, founding the sticker and printing company Sticker Mule in 2010 and growing it into an international operation with more than 1,000 employees.[1][9] He leveraged that success to self-fund his campaign, promising voters he would stay independent from lobbyists and party bosses.[7][10] In his announcement, Constantino pledged to donate his entire congressional salary to charity, presenting himself as a candidate motivated by service rather than personal gain.[10] That message likely resonated with voters tired of career politicians and Washington insiders.[4]
Constantino is widely known for his public and sometimes controversial support for Trump.[1][3][7][9] After the 2024 assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Constantino erected a massive “Vote for Trump” sign on his company headquarters and fought local officials to keep it up.[1][3][7][9] Trump praised him for the sign in his endorsement, calling Constantino “a great guy who will never let you down.”[1][3] Constantino later presented Trump with a seven-foot bronze statue showing the president raising his fist after the attack and even released a song simply titled “Trump.”[1][3][8] These gestures helped cement his image as a loyal America First ally.
Smullen’s Establishment Backing Falls Short
Robert Smullen entered the race with a classic establishment résumé: a Marine veteran with 24 years of service, including combat tours in Afghanistan, and a sitting state legislator since 2018.[9][15] He secured endorsements from twelve of fifteen Republican county committees in the district, won the Conservative Party line with more than 10,000 signatures, and had the formal support of the New York State Republican Party.[2][6][9] Law enforcement and gun-rights groups, including state troopers and the Rifle and Pistol Association, backed his campaign, showing strong institutional confidence in his candidacy.[9] Even so, that machinery did not deliver victory.[5][7]
Media coverage often described Smullen as the “establishment GOP” choice, in contrast with Constantino’s outsider image.[2][3][6] Seven Republicans in New York’s congressional delegation endorsed Smullen, signaling clear resistance from party elites toward Trump’s pick.[2] Analysts warned that this clash could deepen the divide between Trump loyalists and traditional Republicans, especially in safe districts where the primary effectively decides the seat.[2][6] Smullen framed Constantino as unstable and accused him of trying to “buy the seat” with self-funded spending, but those attacks did not persuade enough primary voters.[2][9]
Policy Stakes: Immigration, Energy, and Affordability
Constantino’s platform closely tracks Trump’s priorities on border security and the cost of living.[1] He campaigned on ending illegal immigration and making life more affordable for working families in the North Country, a region squeezed by high energy prices and inflation from years of big-government spending.[1][3] Smullen, meanwhile, emphasized his record in Albany, where he opposed New York’s so-called Green New Deal and restrictive climate laws, pushing instead for pipeline permits and fracking to lower utility bills.[9] Both men criticized progressive energy policy, but Constantino tied his economic message directly to Trump’s broader America First agenda.[1][3]
Since I know this district and these numbers like the back of my hand…as @Redistrict says “I’ve seen enough”
—
Congratulations to @constantino on his overwhelming victory in today’s #NY21 Republican primary!
This was a hard fought election and the voters have spoken loudly…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 24, 2026
The primary also turned personal at times, with each side trading sharp allegations about ethics and loyalty, some of which lack independent documentation.[9][11] Constantino questioned Smullen’s support for Trump in past elections and raised claims about campaign finances and a solar project on Smullen’s land, while Smullen accused Constantino of profiting from offensive stickers and of being “mentally unfit” for office.[2][9] Neither candidate fully substantiated several of these charges with public records, reminding voters that hard-hitting primaries can generate more heat than light.[9][11] For many Republicans, the decisive factor was simpler: who would stand closest to Trump and push hardest against the left’s agenda in Congress.[1][3][20]
Sources:
[1] Web – Trump-backed challenger beats establishment GOP candidate in primary …
[2] Web – Republican Anthony Constantino leans into Trump support … – WAMC
[3] Web – The bitter NY-21 primary highlights a fractured GOP
[4] Web – CONSTANTINO, ANTHONY THOMAS – Candidate overview – FEC
[5] Web – The Totally Bonkers Race to Replace Elise Stefanik – POLITICO
[6] Web – New York 21st Congressional District Primary Election Results
[7] Web – Anthony Constantino – Ballotpedia
[8] Web – New York House District 21 Primary 2026 Live Results
[9] Web – Lifelong Democrat Anthony Constantino has lied to the voters of NY …
[10] Web – Robert Smullen – New York Candidate – Transparency USA
[11] Web – Thom Hallock talks with Robert Smullen, the Gloversville State …
[15] Web – A Last-Minute Guide to the Candidates in New York’s Primaries
[20] Web – So far, Trump’s political revenge campaigns have been successful
[21] YouTube – A Look at Some of the Trump-Backed Candidates that …
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