Anthony Constantino boxed, juggled, sang and cooked in social media videos as he campaigned his way to a decisive victory in the 21st Congressional District Republican primary Tuesday.
Equally important, he had the money to get out the message that he is a fun-loving business expert who would bring a fresh message to a Congress, rife with the political establishment.
As of June 3, the most recent campaign finance report, Constantino had spent $6.63 million on his campaign and had $3.12 million left in his fund, totally self-funding his campaign.
Robert Smullen, who lost the primary, had spent $775,156 on his campaign, as of June 3, and had $524,978 in his campaign fund.
And President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Constantino — “a brash, conservative businessman who resembles Trump” — certainly helped, said Robert Turner, a political science professor at Skidmore College.
Constantino received 26,493 votes, or 58.59%, and Smullen received 17,997, 39.8%, according to unofficial election night results from the New York State Board of Elections.
Constantino carried 13 of the 15 counties in the district. Smullen carried Hamilton and Herkimer counties.
His victory Tuesday means Constantino has the Republican nomination for the House seat that is open because six-term Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) is not seeking re-election.
Stefanik did not endorse during the primary, but she congratulated Constantino in social media posts after the polls closed Tuesday night.
“This was a hard-fought election, and the voters have spoken loudly and clearly,” she said. “In the coming months, I know Anthony will continue to work hard to earn your support.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee also congratulated Constantino in a news release Wednesday.
WHERE SMULLEN MAY GO FROM HERE
Smullen already has the Conservative nomination, which assures him a line on the November general election ballot, if he continues in the race. If he withdraws from the race, the Conservative Party can nominate a replacement candidate.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Smullen had not disclosed his intentions.
“Last night, the voters of NY-21 made their decision,” he said in a statement. “While this was not the outcome we hoped for, I am deeply grateful to every person who supported our campaign, volunteered their time, displayed a sign, made a phone call, knocked on a door or simply believed in our message.”
At least one local Republican strategist expects Smullen to withdraw.
“Smullen will withdraw, and the Conservatives will endorse Constantino,” said David Catalfamo, a Republican strategist from Wilton.
“That’s a prediction that hasn’t happened yet.”
It was a bitter primary.
Constantino, an Amsterdam businessman who lives at Edinburgh in Saratoga County, and Smullen, a state assemblymember from Johnstown, primarily attacked each other’s character rather than debating policy issues.
ENDORSEMENTS
The state Republican Committee and 12 of the county Republican committees in the district endorsed Smullen. The other three county committees did not endorse either candidate.
The morning after the primary, some Republican leaders who had backed Smullen in the primary switched their allegiance to Constantino.
“The voters have spoken … so he (Constantino) will have my support, and he will have the support of the Warren County committee,” said Warren County Republican Chairman Tim McNulty.
“The primary has been decided by the Republican voters of the NY-21, and I will support Anthony Constantino for Congress in NY-21,” said Assemblymember Matt Simpson (R-Lake George), who had previously endorsed Smullen and campaigned with him during the primary.
Simpson said he was not surprised Constantino won.
“I was not surprised by the outcome from conversations with Republican constituents in the district over the past few weeks,” he said.
Simpson attributed Constantino’s win to his message as much as his endorsements from Trump or significant spending.
“It’s a collection of factors that came together and delivered a message that resonated with Republican voters,” Simpson said. “Endorsements and resources are certainly part of any successful campaign, but whether the voters are receptive to a candidate’s message is ultimately what determines outcomes.
“In this case, the voters felt Anthony Constantino’s message represented their best interests, and the results are reflective of that.”
BILL OWENS’ THOUGHTS
“I don’t think either one was a surprise to me,” said former Rep. Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh), referring to the victories of Constantino and Blake Gendebien.
Gendebien, a dairy farmer from Lisbon in St. Lawrence County, defeated Stuart Amoriell, a restaurant owner from Lake Placid, in the Democratic primary.
Owens said what did surprise him was the much larger turnout in the Republican primary than in the Democratic primary.
Owens attributed that to Trump’s endorsement of Constantino.
UNITING THE PARTY
During the primary, Constantino had several times threatened retaliation against Republican leaders who supported Smullen.
“Somehow, all these party insiders are lining up behind him … I’m going to embarrass them badly. We’re going to send them to something called training where they learn to be patriotic and work on behalf of the citizens instead of working on behalf of their friends,” Constantino said in a campaign video posted Jan. 29 on Facebook.
But Constantino sounded more conciliatory in his victory speech Tuesday night.
“Let’s unite and win big in November,” he said.
County Republican chairmen on Wednesday wrote off Constantino’s earlier threats of retaliation as political rhetoric.
“Anthony and I had some harsh words early on, and we have been talking. So we have to work together,” said Fulton County Republican Chairman Susan McNeil, who is also the state Republican regional vice chairwoman for the 21st District.
“I’m one for whatever happened yesterday is yesterday. Now let’s look to what is happening today and tomorrow and move on.”
“He did not say that to me,” McNulty said, referring to Constantino’s previous threats.
He said he was scheduled to speak via telephone with Constantino Wednesday afternoon, and he would be interested to hear his strategy for uniting the party.
“If he’s going to unite the party, from day one, we’re going to have to start uniting it,” he said.
PREDICTIONS
Political experts predict Constantino will continue his aggressive, negative campaign style as he switches to the general election against Gendebien.
“If he was going to do that to a conservative Republican opponent, I think he will do it even more against a Democrat,” Turner said.
Owens said Constantino will be even more aggressive in his personal attacks if Trump’s favorability continues to drop.
“He has, or seems to have, the unlimited resources to do that,” Owens said.
Independent candidate Christopher Schmidt, a day laborer from Hudson Falls, continues his write-in campaign.