Trump Loyalty Topples GOP Machine

Trump-backed businessman Anthony Constantino has now knocked down the GOP establishment in New York’s 21st District.

Quick Take

CBS News projects Constantino beat state Assemblymember Robert Smullen in the Republican primary to replace Elise Stefanik.^[1]
Smullen had backing from the state Republican Party and local GOP officials, but it was not enough.^[1]
Constantino built his campaign around Trump loyalty, self-funding, and a hardline message on immigration and costs.^[1]^[3]
The race exposed a split inside the New York Republican Party between Trump-aligned voters and party regulars.^[1]^[2]

Trump’s Endorsement Carried the Day

Anthony Constantino, a Trump-backed businessman and political newcomer, defeated Robert Smullen in Tuesday’s Republican primary, according to CBS News projections.^[1]

The result matters because Smullen had the state Republican Party and other local GOP officials behind him. Stefanik did not endorse either candidate. Constantino’s win shows that Trump’s backing still carries real weight with GOP voters who want a clearer break from the old party machine.

Constantino built much of his public image around visible support for Trump. After the 2024 Butler assassination attempt, he put a large “Vote for Trump” sign above his company headquarters, and Trump later cited that show of loyalty in his endorsement.^[1]

POLITICO also reported that Constantino leaned on allies in the Trump orbit, including Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone, to build momentum in the race.^[3]

A Businessman Versus the Party Structure

Constantino founded Sticker Mule in 2010, and reports describe it as a large international business with well over 1,000 workers.^[1]^[8] That gave him money, name recognition, and a pitch that he was independent from the usual political donors.

His campaign also stressed that he would donate his congressional salary to charity and self-fund the race.^[10] For many voters frustrated with insiders, that message likely sounded like a clean break from business as usual.

Trump’s preferred candidate wins primary to succeed Elise Stefanik https://t.co/S12jEgRdfS

— POLITICO (@politico) June 24, 2026

Smullen, by contrast, ran as the more traditional conservative. He was the clear choice of state and local Republican leaders, and he presented himself as a seasoned lawmaker with military service and years in public office.^[1]^[9]

That resume appealed to the party establishment. But in a primary shaped by Trump’s influence, experience alone was not enough to overcome the outsider energy behind Constantino. The result shows how fragile establishment control has become inside the Republican Party.

What This Primary Says About the GOP

The NY-21 race was never just about one district. It became another test of whether Trump’s endorsement can still move Republican voters more than party labels, committee backing, or long resumes.

That is a major warning sign for GOP figures who keep trying to separate themselves from the president while still hoping for Trump voters to show up.^[3]^[5] In this case, the voters chose the man Trump backed.

Since I know this district and these numbers like the back of my hand…as @Redistrict says “I’ve seen enough”

—

Congratulations to @constantino on his overwhelming victory in today’s #NY21 Republican primary!

This was a hard fought election and the voters have spoken loudly…

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 24, 2026

The broader lesson is simple. Republican voters in upstate New York picked a candidate who sounded more like Trump and less like the old guard.^[1]^[2]

Constantino’s win also shows how much weight a loud, visible, and unapologetic message can carry in a divided party. For conservatives who want lower costs, tighter borders, and less political theater, the primary offered a clear answer: the base is still rewarding fighters, not caretakers.