Democratic congressional candidate Blake Gendebien, in his primary victory speech Tuesday evening, pledged to be a candidate who can appeal to voters of any political persuasion.
“But this campaign has never been about a political party. It has never been about political insiders. and it’s never been about me,” he said.
Gendebien, a farmer from Lisbon, in St. Lawrence County, has campaigned as a moderate.
He defeated Stuart Amoriel, a restaurant owner from Lake Placid, to win the Democratic nomination for the 21st Congressional District seat that is open because six-term Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) is not seeking re-election.
Gendebien received 15,164 votes, or 62.4%, including blank ballots and write in votes. Amoriell received 8,172 votes, 33.63%, according to unofficial election night results from the New York State Board of Elections.
Gendebien carried all 15 counties.
Amoriell did best in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, where he concentrated much of his campaigning.
He received 42.9% of the vote in Clinton County, 41.76% in Franklin and 43.9% in Essex.
Anthony Constantino, an Amsterdam business man who lives at Edinburgh in Saratoga County, defeated Robert Smullen, a state assemblymember from Johnstown, to win the Republican nomination.
Independent Christopher Schmidt, a day laborer from Hudson Falls, is running as a write-in candidate.
UPHILL BATTLE
To win in November, given the Republican enrollment advantage in NY-21, Gendebien will need to put together a coalition of at least some Republicans and right-leaning Independents together with a strong turn out of Democrats.
Active Republican voters in the district outnumber Democrats 205,573 to 126,514, but there are almost as many Independents as Democrats.
Gendebien must unite and inspire moderate and progressive factions within his own party without alienating Republicans and right-leaning Independents who may be dissatisfied with President Donald Trump.
That’s a tall order but not insurmountable, said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political strategist in New York City who is following the race.
“Can he do it? It’s not out of the question. We live in unusual times. But you still have to give the Republican the edge,” Sheinkopf said.
“You could make a plausible case that he (Gendebien) could win,” said Robert Turner, a political science professor at Skidmore College.
Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Boecher said she recognizes the challenge, but she believes Gendebien is up to it.
“He will do what he has certainly done as a trademark,” she said. “He will meet with people. He will listen to their concerns.”
AVOIDING ALIENATING TRUMP SUPPORTERS
In a recent Democratic primary debate and in his victory speech Tuesday, Gendebien did not mention Trump by name, referring instead to “Washington” or “the administration.”
That is a purposeful strategy, said former Rep. Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh).
“The district went for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024. I think you need to stay away from alienating them (previous Trump voters),” Owens said. “That’s a very good strategy for Blake.”
Amoriell had said during the primary that Democrats need a candidate that is more aggressive in his criticism of Trump.
LOW TURNOUT
Gendebien won the primary by a decisive margin, but perhaps more telling was the low turnout and number of voters who did not cast ballots for either candidate.
Just 18.4% of active enrolled Democrats in the district voted for one candidate or the other in early voting and on primary election day.
The number will increase, at least somewhat, once absentee votes are counted.
There were 816 blank ballots, possibly a combination of some who voted in the state comptroller’s primary but not for a congressional candidate, others who cast a blank ballot as a protest vote and those who did not properly mark their ballots.
There were 103 write-in votes cast.
JOINT FRONT
Gendebien made some progress to uniting the party when Amoriell endorsed him after the polls closed Tuesday.
“So tonight, I am calling on every one of you who walked with me on this journey to come together and support Blake as the winner of this race. Not because politics demands it, but because the future we want demands it,” he said in a statement.
Gendebien, in his victory speech Tuesday, thanked Amoriell for running a civil campaign.
“I would like to thank Stuart Amoriell for running a campaign focused on the issues that matter to this community,” he said.
PREDICTIONS
Political experts predict the tone of the general election campaign will be contentious, given Constantino’s style in the primary.
Sheinkopf, the Democratic strategist, suggested that Republicans will attempt to tie Gendebien with three New York City progressives, which New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed and who also won Democratic primaries Tuesday, two of them defeating Democratic incumbents.
Turner questioned if that strategy would be effective.
“Trying to compare primaries in New York City to upstate is like comparing apples to oranges,” he said.
Turner said the national Democratic strategy this campaign cycle is shaping up to mirror that of 2006, when party leaders encouraged candidates to tailor their campaigns around issues in the district instead of a blanket national message.
MIXED REACTIONS FROM REPUBLICANS
The National Republican Congressional Committee wasted no time in attacking Gendebien in a news release on Wednesday congratulating Constantino on his Republican primary victory.
“Congratulations to Trump-endorsed Anthony Constantino! In November, voters will reject out-of-touch Democrat Blake Gendebien’s toxic agenda that will raise taxes, leave our border wide open and hurt North Country farmers,” said NRCC Eastern Region Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole.
Boecher said Gendebien understands the economic challenges and unique makeup of the district.
“I think he’s authentic to the district,” she said. ”We know he’s not going anywhere (for other political opportunities). He’s got 500 head of cattle, and he’s here to stay.”
From a campaign cash perspective, Gendebien, although trailing, is well-positioned to be competitive against Constantino, who is entirely self-funding his campaign.
Genedebien had $2.28 million left in his campaign fund as of June 3, the most recent report, and Constanino had $3.12 million.