PLATTSBURGH — Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, will be the Democratic candidate to run in the upcoming special election in the 21st Congressional District.
“There is a great deal of interest in this seat because there’s a razor-thin margin in Congress,” Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Boecher, who headed the selection process, said.
“He’s exceptionally, well qualified and he’s in it to win it,” she said, in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the 15 county chairmen in the 21st District issued a news release announcing the selection of Gendebien.
“The 15 Democratic Chairmen of NY-21 announced their unanimous support for longtime North Country resident Blake Gendebien as the candidate they will nominate when and if a special election is called,” the news release said.
“Gendebien, owner and President of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon since 2002, as well as vice-chairman of Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative covering New York and New England, brings an authentic voice that will fight for sensible solutions to the challenges affecting NY-21 and this nation.”
Gendebien said he was thrilled with the selection.
“I’m honored and deeply grateful to each of the 15 Democratic chairs. They have run a thoughtful process that has brought out the best in each of us at a particularly challenging time. No one was expecting a special election, but they stepped up,” Gendebien said.
“This is just the beginning. I’m not going to stop working until we win and can make life in the North Country a whole lot better and a whole lot more affordable.”
Republicans quickly labeled Gendebien as being a “radical far left” politician who supported former President Joe Biden’s policies.
“Republicans are thrilled by the selection of Democrats of radical far left Blake Gendebien… Democrats didn’t do their homework when they selected Blake Gendebien and his catastrophic statements,” State Republican Chairman Edward Cox, said in a news release.
“Republicans will easily hold this seat in the upcoming special election, because the North Country is unquestionably Trump Country.”
The seat will become vacant once Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), who is awaiting confirmation as Ambassador to the United Nations, resigns from Congress.
Boecher said county chairs will take an “official” vote to confirm Gendebien’s nomination, once the special election is scheduled.
The Republican Party had not yet completed its candidate selection process, as of Tuesday.
The Democratic selection process was deliberative and extensive, with involvement from leaders of all 15 counties in the district, Boecher said.
They did extensive demographics research, and determined the party needs a candidate that will appeal to older voters, she said.
Chairs initially interviewed 10 potential candidates via Zoom, and then narrowed the field to four finalists, which were interviewed in person.
The other three finalists were Paula Collins, a cannabis lawyer from Canton, who unsuccessfully challenged Stefanik in the November election, Dylan Hewitt, a South Glens Falls High School graduate and a former White House trade adviser, and Mary Anito, Boecher said.
All were qualified to run, but Gendebien quickly rose to the top of the field, she said.
Boecher said county chairs were particularly impressed with his local roots.
“We’ve experienced a lot them (congressional candidates) who have parachuted in and parachuted out,” she said.
“He said, ‘I have 1,200 acres of land and 800 head of cattle, I’m not going anywhere. I am here to stay.”
Boecher said chairmen appreciated that Gendebien is a “political outsider” but not an outsider to the North Country.
Cox, the state Republican chairman disputed the depiction of Gendebien as a political neophyte, arguing that the St. Lawrence County farmer has been a reliable Democratic donor.
Genedebien is off to a strong start on campaign fundraising.
He raised $266,602 in December, receiving contributions from at least 20 states, and had $252,341 in his campaign fund, as of Dec. 31, according to the most recent campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Gendebien’s campaign announced on Jan. 27 that it had raised more than $500,000, so far in the campaign.