Nasty Upstate Republican Primary Tests Power of Trump Endorsement

Jim Zecca is such a supporter of Donald Trump that in 2016 he took a bus from upstate New York to New Hampshire to campaign for the then-long-term real estate developer who was upending the Republican Party.

So when the Republican president backed first-time candidate Anthony Constantino over party-backed Robert Smullen for an open congressional seat, Zecca followed suit. He went to a rally with an oversized cutout of Trump’s head, which he affixed above one of Constantino’s signs.

“Bob is a nice guy,” Zecca said. “What really stood out to me was President Trump’s support [of Constantino]. And I have to accept President Trump’s endorsement. He needs people who will fight in Washington for America First. He chose him, so I’m with him until the end.

Trump’s support has been a political asset for candidates across the country this cycle. The Constantino-Smullen matchup has become a litmus test for the president’s influence among New York Republicans and for the influence of state party leaders over voters in a 15-county district stretching from the Mohawk Valley to the Canadian border.

Jim Zecca, right, says Trump’s support for Constantino is important.

Jimmy Vielkind/Gothamist

Constantino, 43, turned his family business into an online printing company called Sticker Mule. He briefly boxed in Mexico. He entered politics by erecting a massive “Vote for Trump” sign on one of his factories and later gave the president a bronze statue of Trump.

Smullen, 57, is a retired Marine Corps colonel who has represented parts of the congressional district in the state Assembly since 2019. Colleagues in both parties say he handled the untimely death of his teenage son with grace. He sponsored a law in his honor that governs roadside memorials dedicated to victims of traffic accidents.

The racing became incredibly nasty. Smullen and his supporters say Constantino is rude, unstable and incompetent for office. Constantino’s camp counters that Smullen is boring, ineffective and dishonest. They threatened legal action and parried attacks and counterattacks at campaign events in the final week before the primaries.

“It’s a fascinating race and very difficult to predict,” said Luke Perry, a political science professor at the University of Utica. “You clearly have an internal candidate, Robert Smullen, who rose through the ranks of state government after a career in the military. He’s progressed slowly, against Anthony Constantino, who is sort of an unorthodox businessman and politician – a la Trump.”

The candidates generally agree on all major issues, including fierce support for Trump. Perry says this will let voters judge men based on their character and background – with help from their personal connections.

Smullen attacked Constantino for printing stickers on behalf of clients advocating for defunding the police and supporting Democrats. He also attacked Constantino for previously registering as a Democrat. Constantino said he did it to vote in a primary election while living in Albany, and said his company removes orders for offensive stickers when they are identified.

Constantino attacked Smullen for having a solar farm on his property, which Constantino falsely claimed was paid for by China. Constantino also blames Smullen for cheating on his taxes, pointing to a case in which Smullen was charged with a felony for what prosecutors said was an improper claim for a veteran’s exemption for a second home. Smullen later pleaded guilty to violation to resolve the case.

Smullen won over many members of local Republican committees in the district and gained the formal support of a dozen county-level committees. Linda Clark decided to support Smullen after listening to both candidates at a Warren County Republican Committee meeting. She questioned Constantino about some of his online statements and said he attacked her verbally.

“I think he’s a loose cannon. I think he’s highly inappropriate. I think he’s combative on an unnecessary scale,” said Clark, who leads a Republican women’s group in the Adirondacks.

A local sheriff escorted Constantino out of another meeting that became tense. The businessman has sued or threatened to sue his detractors in the field, including journalists. Clark and other local Republicans cited these behaviors in their decision to support Smullen.

State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox followed the lead of local leaders in officially endorsing Smullen.

“He resisted one-party rule, defended our constitutional freedoms, supported law enforcement and fought for rural communities that are too often ignored by New York’s political establishment,” Cox said.

Assembly member Robert Smullen speaks at a rally.

Jimmy Vielkind/Gothamist

Trump, in a social media endorsement, noted that Constantino was backed by “highly respected MAGA warriors,” including Roger Stone — whose Constantino campaign paid $180,000 for political and communications strategy advice.

“Anthony was such a big supporter that he even put up a somewhat ‘controversial’ sign, against strong opposition, in my honor. The sign is still there!” Trump wrote. “HE’S A GREAT GUY WHO WILL NEVER LET YOU TOUCH!”

Both candidates highlighted their ties to Trump during a televised debate last month that ended with Smullen refusing to shake Constantino’s hand. The men are fighting to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump loyalist who was the president’s choice for ambassador to the United Nations. The nomination was withdrawn and Stefanik announced his retirement after Trump refused to support his now-scuttled campaign for governor.

Harry Phelps is a 64-year-old retired utility worker from Gloversville who supports Smullen. Phelps said Constantino often spoke after Smullen during the debate and did not have specific positions.

“I wish he would have taken care of everything first instead of jumping on the bandwagon,” Phelps said. “He didn’t really know what to say. And he didn’t have much to say other than ‘President Trump, President Trump, President Trump.'”

Phelps rallied behind Smullen on Tuesday as the candidate cast his vote. Smullen said Trump made a mistake in supporting Constantino; Other Smullen supporters say Trump was misled by Stone and distracted by the war in Iran.

The candidate touted the support of local Republicans.

“People like what you see behind me, we are the face of the Republican primary,” he said. “Character matters. If you want something done, send a Marine to Washington, D.C..”

The crowd was larger Thursday outside a medical device company where Constantino won support from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican and founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Joan Lewandowski, 72, was from nearby St. Johnsville. She compared Constantino to Stefanik – who visibly refused to support the primary.

“He’s like-minded as Elise Stefanik. And he’s a Trump supporter. I mean, God, what more do you want, you know?” Lewandowski said about Constantino.

Lewandowski said she learned about Constantino through his advertisements. He self-funded his campaign and spent $6.6 million. That’s nearly nine times more than Smullen’s total outlay of $775,000, bolstered by a $1 million personal loan.

Democrats have a primary between party favorite Blake Gendebien and Stuart Amoriel, who is leading a minimal effort. Top Democrats say they would prefer to run against Constantino, in part because Smullen has secured the Conservative Party line, which puts him on the general election ballot whether or not he wins the GOP primary.

Perry, a political science professor, agreed that the race would be more competitive if Republicans continued their fight into November. But absent that, he said he expects the seat — which Trump won by 16 percentage points in 2024 — to remain in the GOP column.

Constantino said Thursday he was happy to have the support of Trump and Jordan and dismissed the party’s support for Smullen.

“In general, people who have run an organization for a long time don’t like outsiders,” he said. “People resist reversals until you do, and then they love you. So I think everyone will end up loving me.”

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