Republican businessman Anthony Constantino is projected to defeat Democrat Blake Gendebien in New York's 21st Congressional District, keeping the seat in Republican hands despite a brutal election night for the GOP nationwide.
Constantino, who self-funded his campaign with roughly $17 million of his own money, defeated Democrat Blake Gendebien in a tighter-than-expected race. With the vast majority of votes counted (over 95% in some tallies), Constantino was leading with just under 51% of the vote, around 140,000 votes to Gendebien's roughly 134,000 (near 49%).
Here is a lesson for the media and political hacks. Don't play silly games with a guy who was spending millions of his own money to help New York State and the USA.
— Anthony Constantino (@constantino) November 4, 2026
DDHQ made the call Wednesday afternoon; Constantino already declared victory Tuesday night at his Sticker Mule facility in Amsterdam, New York, the same location where his enormous illuminated "Vote for Trump" sign became a symbol of defiance during the 2024 presidential election.
And this was no ordinary Republican victory.
Constantino didn't just have to battle Democrats. He first had to overcome opposition from Republican establishment figures who backed a different candidate in the GOP primary.
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported in June, Constantino delivered a crushing defeat to New York Assemblyman Robert Smullen, the Republican establishment's preferred candidate, in the June 23 primary.
Constantino secured approximately 59% of the Republican primary vote, defeating Smullen by nearly 19 percentage points.
He accomplished that victory despite resistance from influential Republican Party officials and county leaders who had rallied behind Smullen.
President Trump gave Constantino his full endorsement, helping propel the political outsider to the Republican nomination.
Constantino wrote:
"NY-21 Republican Chairs are objectively a group of scammers. They all opposed me during the primary and behind the scenes during the General Election. I won despite them while Blake was propped up by Evil Media and the Democrat Machine. In NYS, the Republican Party is mostly a Con Job that helps Democrats win. Even Bruce Blakeman was in on the con. He just wandered around like a headless chicken going from stupid dinner, to stupid dinner and charming the "party" while ignoring the people. I am with the people and insist we rebuild the Party. Fire Ed Cox!"
NY-21 Republican Chairs are objectively a group of scammers. They all opposed me during the primary and behind the scenes during the General Election. I won despite them while Blake was propped up by Evil Media and the Democrat Machine. In NYS, the Republican Party is mostly a…
— Anthony Constantino (@constantino) November 4, 2026
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