In The News

Democratic candidate sits down for a wide-ranging interview on his goals for the district and his opponent’s rhetoric

The race is to succeed Elise Stefanik. A NewsChannel 13 poll conducted by SurveyUSA shows Gendebien ahead of Republican Anthony Constantino among likely voters.

He comported himself with candor and thoughtfulness, offering reasoned responses to participants’ questions, never dodging those concerning complex and difficult issues. Selfless and humble, he presents as a person of integrity, unimpressed with power and position but driven instead by his passion for his home — and ours — northern and central New York.

LISBON, N.Y. — Blake Gendebien, a second-generation dairy farmer, today released a new television advertisement, "Working Together," highlighting his record leading his dairy co-op and drawing a contrast with Anthony Constantino's refusal to break with party leadership even as farmers struggle with rising costs.

OGDENSBURG — Nestled way up in a corner of the North Country where moose crossing signs outnumber gas stations, dairy farmer Blake Gendebien embodies the Democratic Party’s next great hope.

Blake clearly has both the direct knowledge and the experience to work as our representative in the House for all of us dealing with the daily tasks of feeding our families, handling health issues and other matters important in our lives.

Also in attendance was congressional candidate Blake Gendebien, a Lisbon-area dairy farmer who is running as a Democrat in New York’s 21st Congressional District. “It’s 2026. Why is healthcare getting worse?” he said. “When you lose your primary care, it’s not just an inconvenience. It’s the difference between catching something early with your doctor and ending up in an emergency room because you had nowhere else to go. Primary care is supposed to be the front door to the healthcare system and when that door closes, people don’t stop getting sick. They just end up sicker and they end up costing the system more before anyone catches it.”

Congressional candidate Blake Gendebein also spoke at the hearing, warning of the downstream effects of losing primary care access. “When you lose your primary care, it’s not just an inconvenience. It’s the difference between catching something early with your doctor and ending up in the emergency room because you have nowhere else to go,” Gendebein said.

CARTHAGE, N.Y. — Yesterday, Blake Gendebien, dairy farmer and candidate for NY-21, delivered public comments last night at a hearing held by North Star Health Alliance (NSHA) regarding the proposed closure of the Sleep Center at Carthage Area Hospital and primary care and physical therapy services at the Philadelphia Medical Center.

"Anthony Constantino promised he'd never take a dime from anyone and would fully fund his own campaign," said Blake Gendebien, Democratic candidate for New York's 21st Congressional District. "That promise was broken on primary day when he accepted a contribution from House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Washington insider whose policies are hurting our friends and neighbors. Constantino wants to be a DC insider so badly that he'll break any promise he's made to the voters here. But, everyone up here knows a farmer doesn't go back on his word."