U.S. House, New York 21st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 21st Congressional District?
Blake Gendebien has the strongest record in New York's 21st Congressional District. Blake Gendebien scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Anthony Constantino at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Blake Gendebien's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Anthony Constantino's highest marks are management. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Anthony Constantino
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Blake Gendebien
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Anthony Constantino
- On the record2026-08
Released an AI-generated video of his opponent Blake Gendebien saying things Gendebien never said, with a label stating it was manipulated, per WCAX and WAMC.
Sources: WCAX, Aug. 12, 2026, WAMC, Aug. 13, 2026
- On the record2026-08
A disability rights group asked him to apologize for using a slur in a 2024 Sticker Mule promotional video with comedian Ricky Berwick; he did not apologize, the group said.
- On the record2025-07
New York Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar sued him for defamation in Kings County state Supreme Court in July 2025 over his claims that Kassar threatened his life; he called the suit shameful.
Where it stands: Civil defamation suit filed July 2025 by Gerard Kassar seeking over $1 million; pending in Kings County Supreme Court as of July 8, 2026 (Daily Gazette); no ruling found as of 2026-10-09.
Sources: Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Aug. 4, 2025, Daily Gazette, July 8, 2026
- On the record2024-10
A judge vacated an order sought by the City of Amsterdam that would have blocked display of his 100-foot "Vote for Trump" sign on a Sticker Mule building, per Fox News.
Source: Fox News, Oct. 11, 2024
Blake Gendebien
- On the record2026-10-02
Had declined WRGB's general election debate invitation as of Oct. 2, 2026, while Constantino accepted, per WCAX.
Source: WCAX, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the record2026-10-06
Constantino accused him in October 2026 of illegal dumping on his Lisbon farm; the state Department of Environmental Conservation said it investigated a Sept. 3 complaint, found no violations and closed it, per WCAX.
Source: WCAX, Oct. 6, 2026
- On the record2025-07
Released an AI-generated video in July 2025 depicting Rep. Elise Stefanik, per WNYT; he called it satire.
Sources: WNYT NewsChannel 13, WCAX, Aug. 12, 2026
- Credit2026
Has served as president of the Lisbon school board and vice chair of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's largest dairy cooperative, per WAMC.
Source: WAMC, June 10, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Anthony Constantino. House candidate financial disclosure filed May 20, 2026, and FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076719, FEC administrative fines search
Blake Gendebien. House candidate financial disclosure filed May 21, 2026, and FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077034, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Anthony Constantino. Debated Assemblyman Robert Smullen on WRGB before the June 2026 primary and accepted WRGB's general election debate invitation.
Sources: WCAX, May 28, 2026, WCAX, Oct. 2, 2026
Blake Gendebien. Debated his primary opponent on WRGB in June 2026 and appears at candidate forums; as of Oct. 2 he had declined WRGB's general election debate invitation, which Constantino accepted.
Sources: WCAX, June 12, 2026, WAMC, June 10, 2026, WCAX, Oct. 2, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Anthony Constantino. Has led Sticker Mule as chief executive for years with no formal conduct finding. Two 2026 campaign controversies, a slur in a 2024 company video and an AI video of his opponent, are listed in the Record.
Source: Press-Republican via CNHI
Blake Gendebien. Runs a 500-cow family dairy farm, has served as president of the Lisbon school board and vice chair of the Agri-Mark cooperative board. No conduct finding found.
Source: WAMC, June 10, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. Served on and as president of the Lisbon school board, an elected local office, with no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: WAMC, June 10, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Anthony Constantino. Founder and chief executive of Sticker Mule, an Amsterdam printing company with about 1,200 employees. Has not held public office.
Sources: Press-Republican via CNHI, Ballotpedia, Anthony Constantino
Blake Gendebien. Owns and runs a dairy farm of 500 cows and 1,200 acres, was vice chair of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's largest dairy cooperative, and president of the Lisbon school board.
Source: WAMC, June 10, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Anthony Constantino. Lists priorities on immigration, health care, cutting waste and government corruption in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Anthony Constantino
Blake Gendebien. Lays out positions on affordability, health care, Fort Drum and war powers in his survey and debate answers, mostly in general terms.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Anthony Constantino. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and debated in the primary.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Anthony Constantino, WCAX, May 28, 2026
Blake Gendebien. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, debated in the primary and appears at candidate forums.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Blake Gendebien, WCAX, June 12, 2026, WAMC, June 10, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Anthony Constantino. WNYT reported in June 2026 that he lives in the Saratoga County town of Edinburg, which is in the 21st District. His FEC filing lists a Fonda post office box; $0 itemized individual contributions (self-funded).
Sources: WNYT NewsChannel 13, June 22, 2026, WNYT NewsChannel 13, June 15, 2026, Wikipedia, New York's 21st congressional district
Blake Gendebien. Born and raised in Lisbon in St. Lawrence County, where he farms and served on the school board. FEC by-state totals show about 53 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: WAMC, June 10, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Anthony Constantino. Leads Sticker Mule, with about 1,200 employees. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: Press-Republican via CNHI, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Blake Gendebien. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with $5.5 million raised. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Anthony Constantino. No public record found.
Blake Gendebien. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New York's 21st Congressional District?
Blake Gendebien has the strongest record in New York's 21st Congressional District. Blake Gendebien scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Anthony Constantino at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Blake Gendebien's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Anthony Constantino's highest marks are management. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 21st Congressional District in 2026?
Anthony Constantino (Republican), Blake Gendebien (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Anthony Constantino a good candidate for Congress?
Anthony Constantino scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Blake Gendebien a good candidate for Congress?
Blake Gendebien scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.