2025 New York's 21st congressional district special election

The 2025 New York's 21st congressional district special election is an expected special election to choose a new member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is expected to become vacant as Republican incumbent Elise Stefanik was chosen by president Donald Trump to be his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.^[1] Stefanik was re-elected with 62.2% of the vote in 2024.

Background

County party officials will select their respective nominees in lieu of a primary.^[2]

Republican nomination

Candidates

Declared

Anthony Constantino, printing company CEO^[3]
Darnell Wilson, town supervisor^[a] of Putnam^[4]
Dan Stec, state senator from the 45th district (2021–present)^[5]

Filed paperwork

Otto Dean Miller^[6]

Announcement pending

Joe Pinion, former NewsMax host and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022^[7]

Publicly expressed interest

Steven McLaughlin, Rensselaer County Executive (2018–present)^[8]
Jeremy Messina, former member of the Greenwich Planning Board^[9]
Marc Molinaro, former U.S. Representative from New York's 19th congressional district (2023–2025)^[10]
Chris Tague, state assemblymember from the 102nd district (2018–present) and chair of the Schoharie County Republican Party^[11]

Potential

Matt Doheny, businessman, nominee for this district in 2010 and 2012, and candidate in 2014^[12]
Liz Joy, activist and nominee for the New York's 20th congressional district in 2020 and 2022^[13]
Josh Parker, businessman^[13]
Joe Rutkowski, businessman^[13]
Robert Smullen, state assemblymember from the 118th district (2019–present)^[11]

Declined

Richard Giardino, Fulton County Sheriff (2015–present)^[9]
Mark Walczyk, state senator from the 49th district (2023–present)^[14]

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Declared

Steve Holden, financial management consultant and nominee for the 24th district in 2022^[15]
Paula Collins, cannabis tax attorney and nominee for this district in 2024^[8]
Blake Gendebien, farmer^[16]

Filed paperwork

Pamela Marshall, business project manager^[17]

Publicly expressed interest

Timothy Knight, mayor of Middleburgh (2023–present)^[18]

Declined

Matt Castelli, former director of counterterrorism for the U.S. National Security Council and nominee for this district in 2022^[8]
Billy Jones, state assemblymember from the 115th district (2017–present)^[19]

Notes

^ Mayor

References

^ Haake, Garrett; Shabad, Rebecca (November 11, 2024). "Trump chooses Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations". NBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
^ "NY-21 political parties plan nomination process". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
^ Green, Matthew (November 20, 2024). "Sticker Mule CEO announces intent to run for Congress". WRGB. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (December 20, 2024). "Morning Digest: Thank you for everything this year. We'd be grateful for your support". The Downballot. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
^ Nezaj, Benny (December 26, 2024). "State Sen. Dan Stec announces bid for New York's 21st Congressional District". WPTZ. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1848956". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
^ MacNeil, Tyler (December 5, 2024). "NY-21 'already voted for Joe Pinion': Ex-Schumer rival eyes special election". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hodgman, Lucy (November 13, 2024). "With Stefanik headed to U.N., here's who could take her seat in Congress". Times Union. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
^ ^a ^b McNeill, Tyler (November 12, 2024). "Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino not pursuing bid for Congress". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
^ Solender, Andrew (November 13, 2024). "Ousted Rep. Molinaro eyes bid for neighboring House seat". Axios. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Beeferman, Jason (November 11, 2024). "Coincidence much? Congestion pricing is alive again". Politico. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
^ Odato, James (January 14, 2025). "Assemblyman Chris Tague emerges as leading GOP candidate to replace Elise Stefanik". Retrieved January 21, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hodgman, Lucy; Lyons, Brendan (January 15, 2025). "Tague emerges as top GOP pick to succeed Stefanik in special election". Times Union. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
^ "Walczyk won't run for Stefanik's seat". WWNY-TV. January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
^ Cusanelli, Michael (November 26, 2024). "Steve Holden, Anthony Constantino vie for party nominations in NY-21 special election". WPTZ. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
^ Moore, John (December 11, 2024). "Lisbon farmer wants to replace Stefanik in Congress". WWNY-TV. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
^ "Statement of Candidacy". Federal Elections Commission. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
^ McNeil, Tyler (November 19, 2024). "Democratic Middleburgh mayor mulling bid for NY-21". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
^ Nezaj, Benny (January 3, 2025). "Northern New York Assemblyman Billy Jones declines US House bid amid potential open seat in NY-21". WPTZ. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

[4] Mayor

[1] Haake, Garrett; Shabad, Rebecca (November 11, 2024). "Trump chooses Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations". NBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.

[2] "NY-21 political parties plan nomination process". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

[3] Green, Matthew (November 20, 2024). "Sticker Mule CEO announces intent to run for Congress". WRGB. Retrieved November 22, 2024.

[5] Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (December 20, 2024). "Morning Digest: Thank you for everything this year. We'd be grateful for your support". The Downballot. Retrieved December 20, 2024.

[6] Nezaj, Benny (December 26, 2024). "State Sen. Dan Stec announces bid for New York's 21st Congressional District". WPTZ. Retrieved December 26, 2024.

[7] "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1848956". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2024.

[8] MacNeil, Tyler (December 5, 2024). "NY-21 'already voted for Joe Pinion': Ex-Schumer rival eyes special election". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved December 6, 2024.

[headed-9] Hodgman, Lucy (November 13, 2024). "With Stefanik headed to U.N., here's who could take her seat in Congress". Times Union. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

[giardino-10] McNeill, Tyler (November 12, 2024). "Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino not pursuing bid for Congress". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

[11] Solender, Andrew (November 13, 2024). "Ousted Rep. Molinaro eyes bid for neighboring House seat". Axios. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

[NY_Playbook_11/11/24-12] Beeferman, Jason (November 11, 2024). "Coincidence much? Congestion pricing is alive again". Politico. Retrieved November 11, 2024.

[13] Odato, James (January 14, 2025). "Assemblyman Chris Tague emerges as leading GOP candidate to replace Elise Stefanik". Retrieved January 21, 2025.

[Times-14] Hodgman, Lucy; Lyons, Brendan (January 15, 2025). "Tague emerges as top GOP pick to succeed Stefanik in special election". Times Union. Retrieved January 21, 2025.

[15] "Walczyk won't run for Stefanik's seat". WWNY-TV. January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

[16] Cusanelli, Michael (November 26, 2024). "Steve Holden, Anthony Constantino vie for party nominations in NY-21 special election". WPTZ. Retrieved November 27, 2024.

[17] Moore, John (December 11, 2024). "Lisbon farmer wants to replace Stefanik in Congress". WWNY-TV. Retrieved December 12, 2024.

[18] "Statement of Candidacy". Federal Elections Commission. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.

[19] McNeil, Tyler (November 19, 2024). "Democratic Middleburgh mayor mulling bid for NY-21". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 21, 2024.

[20] Nezaj, Benny (January 3, 2025). "Northern New York Assemblyman Billy Jones declines US House bid amid potential open seat in NY-21". WPTZ. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

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