16-07-2025
Collins, former NY-21 Democratic candidate, won't run again
Jul. 15—Paula Collins, the Democrat who ran to unseat U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik last year, will not be running again. Collins filed documents to terminate her campaign in May, although the process is not entirely done yet.
In a statement shared with the Watertown Daily Times, Collins, a cannabis law attorney with roots in New York City, said she has stepped back from the campaign to support the party's efforts to elect a Democrat now that it seems likely Stefanik won't seek reelection to the seat.
"In light of the personal challenges to members of the legal profession, as well as in support of the party's efforts to launch a viable candidate for NY-21, it makes sense to suspend my campaign at this time. I wish all Democratic candidates in NY-21 strength and resilience for the upcoming midterm elections," she said via text.
Collins ran unopposed for the Democratic Party's nomination against Stefanik in 2024, launching a campaign centered on rebuilding a languishing Democratic opposition in NY-21. She leaned on her New York City connections where the party was stronger to try and boost her campaign, but in the general election carried just 38% of the vote to Stefanik's 62%.
During her campaign, Collins said she would run again in 2026, and when it appeared that Stefanik would vacate her seat to join President Donald J. Trump's cabinet, Collins sought support in the anticipated special election to replace her. Ultimately, local Democratic Party leaders coalesced around Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, to be their candidate in that race, and the party support for Gendebien has carried forward.
Collins filed in May not to suspend, but to terminate her campaign. At the time, her campaign finance report showed she had just about $94,600 in cash on hand, and owed about $41,700 to Blue Wave Political Partners, a campaign consulting firm from Seattle.
Last month, the Federal Election Commission requested additional information to terminate the campaign; they ruled the campaign hasn't proven it is eligible to close because it hasn't shown it is done taking contributions, hasn't settled all debts, and must share a statement explaining a plan to dispose of residual campaign funds. Those documents are due July 22.
