Trump Endorses Sticker Company CEO Anthony Constantino for Stefanik’s Congressional Seat

President Donald Trump has endorsed Anthony Constantino, CEO of Sticker Mule, to fill the House seat being vacated by Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District, defying the New York Republican Party’s preferred candidate.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Anthony Constantino, who is running to represent the fantastic people of New York’s 21st Congressional District,” Trump wrote Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The endorsement bypasses New York State Assembly member Robert Smullen, who had secured support from established Republican leaders across the district. Trump’s decision creates a significant split within the party as candidates position themselves ahead of the primary.

Constantino gained national attention last year when he installed a massive 100-foot “Vote for Trump” sign atop his manufacturing facility in Montgomery County, sparking a legal battle with local officials. Trump specifically referenced this display of loyalty in his endorsement statement.

“Anthony has been such a Great Supporter that he actually put up a somewhat ‘controversial’ sign, against strong opposition, in my honor. The sign is still there!” Trump wrote.

In response to the endorsement, Constantino told the New York Post he was honored to receive Trump’s support. “He noted every primary candidate he endorses wins, so I look forward to winning the general election and making everyone who supported me very proud once I am in Congress,” Constantino said.

The businessman, who heads a successful printing and merchandise company, was previously registered as a Democrat. He told Fox News Digital that he was inspired to run for Congress following the first assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, stating that the former president “doesn’t deserve all the hate directed at him” and neither do his supporters.

Smullen quickly challenged the endorsement, telling reporters in Albany that Trump had been misled by Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally who serves as an advisor to Constantino. “A consultant got to the president, someone who is being paid by my opponent, and I think the president’s made a mistake,” Smullen said, adding that Trump needs to hear “the facts.”

While Smullen has garnered support from establishment Republican figures within the district, Constantino has secured endorsements from prominent Trump loyalists including Stone and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, suggesting a split between traditional party structures and the Trump-aligned wing of the Republican Party.

The seat became open through a complex sequence of political developments. Stefanik, who currently serves as House Republican Conference Chair, was initially nominated by Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations after his November election victory. However, Trump later withdrew the nomination, citing concerns about maintaining the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Following the withdrawn nomination, Stefanik launched a brief campaign for Governor of New York before ultimately announcing she would not seek re-election to Congress, creating the opening that Constantino and Smullen are now competing to fill.

New York’s 21st Congressional District, which covers a vast portion of northern New York including the Adirondack Mountains region, has been reliably Republican in recent elections. The winner of the Republican primary will likely have a significant advantage in the general election for this traditionally conservative district.

The endorsement continues Trump’s pattern of directly influencing Republican primary contests across the country, often favoring candidates who have demonstrated personal loyalty over those preferred by state and local party organizations.