By: Russ Spencer- Jewish Voice News

In New York’s sprawling North Country, a political tremor is rumbling through a region long defined by its deep conservative roots and fierce loyalty to Republican standard-bearers. The reverberations began the moment Anthony Constantino — entrepreneur, Trump enthusiast, and self-made CEO — stepped behind a podium flanked by a wall of turkeys and declared his candidacy for Congress. In a report on Wednesday in The New York Post, which has chronicled Constantino’s clashes, courtroom battles, and signature bravado for years, said that the Sticker Mule founder is now vying to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is departing the House to pursue a gubernatorial challenge against Democrat Kathy Hochul in 2026.

In a nearly 30-minute speech that blended political aspiration with populist showmanship, Constantino laid out a vision sharply distinct from the transactional machinery of the Albany–Washington corridor. His message, as The New York Post report emphasized, touched on a belief in self-reliance, a disdain for bureaucratic stagnation, and a desire to elevate leaders grounded in real-world experience rather than in backroom dealing.

“I’ve enjoyed tremendous success,” Constantino said, his voice echoing across the shop floor of his Amsterdam facility, the air thick with the scent of roasting turkeys. “Politics is my way of giving back.” His remarks, delivered with a characteristic blend of sincerity and grit, positioned him as a political outsider who refuses to apologize for his bluntness or abandon his pro-Trump identity — an identity that The New York Post report noted is inseparable from his public persona.

Constantino’s launch event, as described in The New York Post report, was quintessentially him: bold, unconventional, and unfettered by the rigid choreography that defines most political rollouts. Dozens of turkeys formed a literal and symbolic backdrop as the businessman emphasized gratitude, community, and his belief in a new political class rising from the economic soil of places such as Amsterdam and Gloversville rather than from think tanks and lobbying offices.

“The world is changing and we need political leaders that get it,” he said, a pointed dig at the establishment figures who have grown complacent. Referring to some of his would-be Republican critics, Constantino added, “We’ve been stuck with dinosaurs whose top concern is often their next donor-funded meal.”

It was a not-so-subtle critique that landed directly at the feet of Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar — a perennial operator whose grip on the state’s political right wing has long elicited resentment among grassroots conservatives. The New York Post has frequently highlighted Kassar’s penchant for insider politicking, and Constantino’s own history with him is well-documented. Years earlier, Constantino accused Kassar of putting out a “hit” on him — an allegation that revealed the bitterness many non-establishment conservatives feel toward the chairman and the entrenched apparatus he represents.

Whether literal or metaphorical, Constantino’s charge against Kassar crystallized a broader sentiment that the state’s conservative hierarchy has, for far too long, wielded influence that benefits only a narrow circle of loyalists. In a race defined by authenticity, that could well prove to be Kassar’s — and his preferred candidates’ — Achilles’ heel. Constantino, by contrast, represents a different archetype: brash but principled, politically unpolished but deeply attuned to the frustrations of voters who have long felt ignored by the ruling class.

A key theme repeated in The New York Post report, was Constantino’s pledge to self-fund his campaign entirely. In an age when political power often correlates with donor Rolodexes and PAC influence, this move signals a striking independence. Constantino made it clear that he intends to owe nothing to the party establishment — especially not to the Kassar-centered network that has historically exerted outsized influence in Republican primaries.

“I’m here to ask for your support,” he said. “Your family’s support. And the support of — well — anyone else you know.”

His candidacy pits him against Assemblyman Robert Smullen, a retired Marine colonel with legislative experience and a more conventional political résumé. But as The New York Post report pointed out, the North Country has always been fertile ground for outsider candidates who channel rural populism and distrust of Albany elites. Stefanik herself rose to prominence by tapping into similar energy in her early campaigns, though her transformation into a national GOP figure has since redefined her political identity.

Stefanik, for her part, has thus far refused to endorse in the race. Speaking to News 12, she stated, “I am not at this point making an endorsement.” Her neutrality may reflect an attempt to avoid alienating a Republican base that remains deeply fractured between Trump-aligned insurgents and establishment loyalists. It may also signal an implicit acknowledgment that Constantino, with his business acumen and magnetic populism, represents a formidable force capable of reshaping the district’s GOP landscape.

While Constantino’s candidacy has injected enthusiasm into the North Country’s political bloodstream, The New York Post’s coverage has cast a far less flattering light on Jerry Kassar, whose name remains synonymous with political stagnation. Kassar’s tenure as Conservative Party chairman has often been marked by consolidation of power rather than the expansion of ideological influence. Many grassroots conservatives view him as a gatekeeper whose focus on internal loyalty tests has weakened, not strengthened, conservatism’s appeal across New York State.

In this context, Constantino’s criticisms resonate with voters who believe Kassar represents the worst tendencies of political entrenchedness — a figure more interested in controlling outcomes than in broadening coalitions or championing authenticity. Even Smullen, should he seek Kassar’s backing, risks being tethered to a stale institutional brand at a moment when Republican voters increasingly favor anti-establishment narratives.

The New York Post’s past reporting on Kassar has highlighted his tight alignment with older power structures and his reluctance to embrace newer conservative voices unless they conform to his rigid ideological framework. These dynamics could prove disastrous in a year where unpredictable voter realignments are reshaping the political map.

Constantino’s willingness to push back against this old guard — and to do so loudly — may be one of his greatest political assets.

NY-21, rated safely Republican by the Cook Political Report, will likely remain in GOP hands regardless of the primary outcome. But the contest between Constantino and establishment-aligned Republicans is about something bigger than a congressional seat. It is a referendum on the direction of the party, particularly in regions where voters crave innovation rather than ossification.

The New York Post’s framing of Constantino as a bold and unconventional figure reflects a broader cultural shift toward candidates who prioritize transparency, independence, and unapologetic conviction. In his announcement speech, Constantino not only acknowledged his unconventional past but embraced it — turning courtroom fights, public disputes, and outspoken political stances into testaments of resilience and authenticity.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidates Blake Gendebien and Dylan Hewitt remain unlikely to pose a serious challenge in a district where President Trump remains extraordinarily popular. In that political environment, Republican primary voters hold the decisive power — and they are increasingly drawn to candidates who defy the traditional party apparatus embodied by figures such as Kassar.

Anthony Constantino’s entry into the congressional race marks the beginning of one of New York’s most consequential and ideologically defining primaries of the 2026 cycle. The New York Post has not only documented his rise but contextualized it within a broader political realignment favoring outsider voices over entrenched establishment figures.

By choosing to self-fund, to speak candidly, and to challenge figures such as Jerry Kassar, Constantino has positioned himself as a refreshing departure from politics as usual. If the early response is any indication, the voters of the North Country may be ready for precisely that kind of change — and may view Kassar’s old-guard influence as a liability rather than a guiding compass.

In a district long shaped by national conservatism but yearning for local authenticity, Constantino’s candidacy may prove to be not just viable, but transformative.