Two Candidates, One Direction: NY-21 GOP Race Tests Business vs. Establishment
NY-21 GOP Primary: Two Strong Paths, One Golden Age
Watertown Post Editorial
The Republican primary in New York’s 21st Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most consequential contests in the North Country in years—and not because of division, but because of strength on both sides.
The Watertown Post is formally endorsing Anthony Constantino.
We do so for one central reason: he is a builder.
As CEO of Sticker Mule, Constantino didn’t climb a political ladder—he built a company from scratch. In a region that understands hard work, risk, and the grind of creating something out of nothing, that matters. It’s not theoretical. It’s not a résumé line. It’s real-world execution.
That business-first mindset is what drives our endorsement.
But let’s be equally clear about something else: this is not a race where one candidate towers over the other in obvious fashion.
Robert Smullen brings a résumé that demands respect. A 24-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel, with multiple combat tours and national defense experience, Smullen represents discipline, service, and institutional knowledge. His leadership at the Hudson River–Black River Regulating District ties directly into issues that matter locally—water, infrastructure, and long-term planning. And since 2019, he has represented the region in the State Assembly.
That’s not fluff. That’s substance.
He has also earned significant support from within the Republican establishment. For many voters, that signals stability and experience. For others, it raises familiar questions about whether the party’s traditional machinery is fully aligned with what they see as the next phase—the Golden Age direction many Republicans now talk about but don’t always clearly define.
This is where the contrast sharpens.
Constantino represents disruption. Smullen represents structure.
Both men support the broader movement shaped by Donald Trump and the policy direction that has energized Republican voters across the country. Both are, in their own ways, aligned with the idea of a stronger, more self-reliant America.
And that’s the key point: this is not a choice between right and wrong. It’s a choice between approaches.
The Watertown Post has always leaned toward the outsider—the one willing to step in, take risks, and operate outside the traditional political framework. That instinct hasn’t changed. It’s why we are backing Constantino.
At the same time, we are not dismissing Smullen. Far from it. He is a serious candidate with real credentials, and voters should take a hard look at what he brings to the table.
Because whichever path Republican voters choose in this primary, one thing is clear:
The direction is the same.
The Golden Age agenda—focused on economic strength, national confidence, and local resilience—will move forward. The question is not whether it happens, but how it is carried out.
We’ve made our choice.
Now it’s up to the voters of NY-21.
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