Trump’s CEO Buddy Triumphs In Primaries!

A sticker company CEO with no political experience just crushed the New York Republican Party’s hand-picked candidate by 18 points — and the party never saw it coming.

Story Snapshot

Anthony Constantino, founder of Sticker Mule, won the New York 21st District Republican primary on June 23, 2026, to replace Elise Stefanik in Congress.
President Trump endorsed Constantino, making him the only Republican candidate in the race to receive that backing — and it proved decisive.
Constantino led opponent Robert Smullen by 18 points with 78 percent of ballots counted, despite Smullen having support from 12 of 15 county Republican committees.
Constantino self-funded his campaign and pledged to donate his entire congressional salary to charity.

The Party Bosses Lost and Trump Won — Again

New York’s Republican establishment went all-in on Robert Smullen. He was a former state assemblyman, a Marine veteran, and had the backing of 12 out of 15 county Republican committees and the state party itself. On paper, he was the safe, sensible choice. Voters in New York’s 21st District did not care. They picked Anthony Constantino — a first-time candidate who runs a sticker company — by a landslide.

This outcome fits a clear pattern. Trump-endorsed candidates have won or advanced in 37 Republican primary races in a recent overnight sweep alone, underscoring that a Trump endorsement still carries enormous weight with Republican base voters. ^[16] The message from NY-21 voters was blunt: party committee endorsements do not matter much when Trump points a different direction.

Who Is Anthony Constantino and Why Did Voters Trust Him

Constantino founded Sticker Mule, an American manufacturing company that employs more than 1,000 people in Upstate New York. ^[4] That is not a small operation. In a region that has watched manufacturing jobs disappear for decades, running a business that actually makes things and hires people locally is a powerful credential. He also self-funded his campaign, promising voters he would not owe favors to donors or party bosses. ^[10] He pledged to give his entire congressional salary to charity. ^[9] Whether you agree with his politics or not, those are hard pledges to ignore.

A Messy Race Full of Accusations on Both Sides

This primary was not clean. Constantino’s campaign accused Smullen of being arrested for felony tax fraud and refusing to endorse Trump — claims that were not backed by court documents or public records. Smullen fired back, accusing Constantino of not paying his own taxes, a claim that also lacked documentation. ^[12] Both sides accused the other of lying. Politico described the race as “totally bonkers.” That label is fair. But muddy campaigns are not new, and voters ultimately cut through the noise.

The Establishment Resistance That Backfired

The New York State Republican Party’s decision to back Smullen was described as controversial even before votes were cast. ^[2] Backing a candidate against the one Trump endorsed is a bold gamble in today’s Republican Party. That gamble failed badly. The 18-point margin was not a close call — it was a rejection. Voters in NY-21 made clear they trust Trump’s judgment over their own county committee chairs. That should make every establishment Republican in the state take notice.

🚨 NEW YORK PRIMARY RESULTS 🚨
📅 June 23, 2026
🟥 TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICANS
NY-1 — Nick LaLota ✅⁰NY-2 — Andrew Garbarino ✅⁰NY-3 — Mike LiPetri ✅ WON PRIMARY⁰NY-11 — Nicole Malliotakis ✅⁰NY-17 — Mike Lawler ✅⁰NY-19 — Marcus Molinaro ✅⁰NY-21 — Anthony Constantino ✅…

— Robin Tzi (@rdejay) June 24, 2026

Constantino now heads to the general election to fill the seat Elise Stefanik held before joining the Trump administration. The district leans Republican, so he enters the general as a strong favorite. Whether the businessman-turned-candidate can translate primary energy into governing substance remains the real question. Pledging to donate your salary and self-fund a campaign are great lines. Delivering results in Congress is a different skill set entirely. NY-21 voters bet on the outsider. Now comes the harder part.