Republicans narrowing list for NY21 candidate
The 15 county chairs in the district could be ready to select a nominee in about two weeks, said Warren County Republican Chairman Tim McNulty.
Resumes of the 11 finalists have been sent to the White House for vetting, he said, and county chairs expect to have reports back from the vetting process within a week or two.
FINALISTS
Clinton County Republican Chairwoman Jerika Manning identified the finalists, listed in alphabetical order by last name and not any specific ranking, as follows:
Anthony Constantino, a businessman from Amsterdam; Matt Doheny, a businessman from Jefferson County who was the local Republican congressional candidate in 2012 and 2014; Liz Lemery Joy, a conservative writer and speaker from Schenectady who was the Republican candidate in the 20th Congressional District in 2020 and 2022; Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin; Joshua Parker of St. Lawrence County; Joe Pinion, a television news commentator who was the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in New York in 2022; Charles Potter; Joseph Rutkowski, a construction company owner from Rome; state Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R-Mohawk); state Sen. Dan Stec (R-Queensbury); Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-Schoharie).
Manning said several of the finalists have slowed down their activity in recent days and may no longer be seeking the nomination for the seat that will be vacant when U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) resigns to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Unlike a regular election, there are no primaries in a special election.
SELECT
County party chairs in the district select their respective nominees.
The Republican selection will be made by a weighted voting process, in which Clinton County holds 8.54% of the weighted vote, Franklin County 4.95% and Essex County 4.52%.
Democratic chairs in the 21st District on Feb. 4 announced the selection of Blake Gendebien, a farmer from Lisbon in St. Lawrence County, as the party's nominee.
Since the announcement, Gendebien had made public appearances in at least seven of 15 counties, and received early labor endorsements from Teamsters Joint Council 18, Teamsters Local No. 687, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 910.
Gendebien had raised more than $1.8 million for his campaign, as of Feb. 26, according to his campaign manager.
The special election will be held within 90 days of when Stefanik resigns.
It is unclear when Stefanik might resign.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has said that a Senate vote on Stefanik's confirmation had been delayed because her vote was needed on House budget bills, The New York Times reported on Feb. 24.
Political experts following the election have said Stefanik's confirmation and resignation will not likely occur until after two special congressional elections in Florida are held on April 1.
PLANS
Manning, the Clinton County Republican chairwoman, said that, at this point, the plan is still to select a nominee after Stefanik resigns.
McNulty, the Warren County Republican chairman, said that plan may change.
'It is a group decision,' he said. 'As far as I am concerned, we need to get our candidate decided on and out there as soon as possible.'
Rutkowski, the finalist from Rome, said in a Feb. 27 radio interview with Glenn Curry on AM 1240 Watertown that, if nominated, he will personally contribute at least $1 million to his campaign.
Constantino, the businessman from Amsterdam, opened a campaign volunteer center in Amsterdam on Feb. 27, and he has begun radio advertising.
Constantino, who personally loaned his campaign $2.6 million in November, has said that if does not receive the GOP nomination for the special election he will continue campaigning for a Republican primary in 2026.
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