NY-21: Why Democrats could pull an upset in Elise Stefanik's district
Democrat Blake Gendebien has released a poll showing him in a competitive race for New York’s conservative 21st District—a race that could grow more competitive still if a defeated Republican candidate decides to pursue a third-party bid.
Gendebien’s survey, conducted by Impact Research late last month, finds him trailing wealthy businessman Anthony Constantino by just a 45-44 margin. Just two years ago, though, this sprawling rural district in New York’s North Country voted for Donald Trump 60-39 and for Rep. Elise Stefanik by an even wider 62-38 spread.
A memo from Impact attributes the tight result to Constantino’s deep unpopularity, saying his net favorability stands at -20 while Gendebien, a dairy farmer, enjoys a positive +13 rating. (The pollster did not release raw favorability numbers.)
Constantino, a sticker company CEO known for his violent rhetoric, has sunk to these depths thanks in part to a nasty feud with local Republican leaders, who strongly preferred his primary opponent, Assemblyman Robert Smullen.
https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-why-democrats-could