Democrats Target Stefanik's Open North Country Seat After Adding NY-21 to Red to Blue List

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added New York's 21st District to its Red to Blue program, targeting a North Country seat Rep. Elise Stefanik has held for more than 11 years.

NY-21 is one of six solidly Republican districts the committee added. The others are in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Tennessee, where Trump won by 10 to 21 points in 2024. Both Stefanik and Trump carried the rural district, which stretches from Schoharie County to Canada, by more than 20 points.

Marist Poll analyst Jay DeDapper called NY-21 the reddest district in the state and said the committee is probably treating it as a "Hail Mary," with cheap television markets and cash to spare. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats' strong frontline incumbents free the party to play offense in Trump-won seats.

The Republican nominee is Anthony Constantino, a former boxer who founded a sticker company and holds Trump's endorsement. He has called the race a "boxing match" and has clashed at times with the state Republican Party. DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene called him an extremist. DeDapper said his MAGA branding could cost him in a district where about a quarter of voters are independents.

The Democratic nominee is dairy farmer Blake Gendebien. Constantino held an event in Colonie claiming private investigators found Gendebien illegally dumped tires, concrete and cattle carcasses on his St. Lawrence County property, and played drone footage in a campaign ad. Gendebien said he has already been cleared and accused Constantino of stalking his home and business.

New York voters will decide on Nov. 3.