A key component in Democratic congressional candidate Blake Gendebien’s strategy to attract disenchanted Republican voters was thwarted when the state Board of Elections upheld a challenge to his Independent nominating petitions.
Gendebien will now run solely on the Democratic line in the November general election.
The farmer from Lisbon, in St. Lawrence County, easily defeated Lake Placid restaurant owner Stuart Amoriell in the June 23 Democratic primary in the 21st Congressional District race.
The state BOE ruled Thursday that 563 of the 3,801 signatures on Gendebien’s Independent nominating petitions were invalid, leaving him with 3,238 valid signatures, less than the 3,500 required.
Because of technicalities in state election law, political advisers generally recommend that a candidate secure twice the number of signatures required in order to withstand challenges.
Gendebien has said securing an Independent line was intended to gain votes from Republicans and right-leaning Independents.
This segment of voters is essential to a Democrat win, given the heavy Republican enrollment advantage in the 15-county district.
Active Republican voters in the district outnumber Democrats 205,573 to 126,514, but there are almost as many Independents as Democrats.
In New York, candidates can run on multiple party lines in the general election and combine the number of votes received on all party lines.
Republican Anthony Constantino, who defeated Assemblymember Robert Smullen (R-Johnstown) in the June 23 Republican primary, also has an Independent line.
Constantino, an Amsterdam businessman who lives in Edinburg in Saratoga County, said in a press release Thursday that he had secured 9,280 signatures on his Independent nominating petitions. He used paid contractors to collect signatures.
Constantino’s campaign portrayed the disqualification of Gendebien’s Independent petitions as a sign of political weakness.
“Only 3,500 signatures are required to qualify for an Independent nomination. The fact that the candidate was unable to meet the legally required minimum number of valid signatures demonstrates how little actual support he has in the 21st Congressional District,” said Joe Burns, an election lawyer for the Constantino campaign.
Gendebien insisted his campaign is strong.
“It’s clear my opponent is worried about the momentum we’re building. Instead of making his case to voters, he’s turning to legal challenges in an attempt to stop our campaign,” Gendebien said in a statement.
“I’m focused on lowering costs, protecting rural healthcare, securing our border and earning the trust of voters across upstate and the North Country.
“I’ll continue fighting every day to earn every vote, and I look forward to winning this election in November.”
Smullen, who lost the Republican primary, still has the Conservative nomination.
As of mid-afternoon Thursday, he had not said whether he will continue to actively campaign.
Independent Christopher Schmidt, a day laborer from Hudson Falls who was unable to get enough signatures to get on the ballot, is running a write-in campaign.
Since the primary, Republican leaders have galvanized around Constantino, including a joint endorsement from all 15 county Republican chairmen in the 21st District,
Recent prominent Constantino endorsements include House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Republican Leader Steve Scalise and House Republican Whip Tom Emmer.