President Trump-backed challenger Anthony Constantino has won the New York 21st District Republican primary, handing the GOP base a clear win over the party machine.
Quick Take
- Constantino, a businessman and newcomer, is projected to beat Robert Smullen in the primary[1].
- Smullen had backing from the state Republican Party and local GOP officials[1].
- Donald Trump endorsed Constantino and praised his public support for the president[1][3].
- The race split Republicans between a Trump-first outsider and the party establishment[1][2].
Trump’s Endorsement Carried the Race
Anthony Constantino moved from business into politics with one major advantage: Donald Trump chose him. CBS News projected Constantino the winner over Robert Smullen, a state assemblymember who had the support of the state Republican Party and other local GOP officials[1].
The result gave Trump loyalists another sign that his endorsement still carries real force in primary fights.
Trump’s preferred candidate wins primary to succeed Elise Stefanik https://t.co/S12jEgRdfS
— POLITICO (@politico) June 24, 2026
Trump’s backing was not passive. The president highlighted Constantino’s giant “Vote for Trump” sign, which sat atop the company headquarters after the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt in 2024[1].
Trump later said Constantino was “a Great Supporter” and wrote that he “will never let you down,” framing the race as a test of loyalty as much as ideology[1][3].
Establishment GOP Support Did Not Hold
Smullen entered the race with the kind of support that usually matters in a local primary. He had the state Republican Party, many county officials, and a long resume in elected office[1][2].
But those advantages did not overcome Constantino’s outsider pitch. The race became a familiar fight inside the party: local power and institutional backing on one side, Trump-aligned energy on the other.
That split matters because New York Republicans have been trying to hold a seat once occupied by Elise Stefanik, who did not endorse in the contest[1].
Constantino’s victory shows that in today’s GOP, a candidate can still beat a better-connected rival by riding a sharper message and a national brand. For many voters, that is the point. They are tired of party insiders who talk like Republicans but do not act as they mean it.
Constantino Built His Case Around Trump and Business
Constantino made his name outside politics. He founded Sticker Mule in 2010 and turned it into a large international company[1]. During the campaign, he cast himself as a builder, a self-funder, and a supporter of limited government values.
He also leaned hard into Trump symbolism, including a public sign, a bronze statue, and a campaign style built around loyalty rather than polished politics[3][4].
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
That approach worked because it spoke to a frustrated base. Many Republican voters want a fighter who backs Trump, pushes affordability, and rejects the left’s endless lectures and government overreach.
Constantino’s win suggests that the message still beats the old GOP model in some districts. It also raises the same question that keeps coming up across the country: will party bosses learn, or keep getting rolled by voters who want results over control?
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
