Vice President J.D. Vance may swoop into upstate New York ahead of the Nov. 3 election to help Republicans keep retiring Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat, sources said on Tuesday.
Vance will campaign against Republican candidate Anthony Constantine in Ogdensburg on Monday, Nov. 2, according to three Republican insiders with knowledge of preliminary plans.
Constantine, who owns a company that makes stickers and decals, is facing a surprising competitive challenge from Democratic farmer Blake Gendebien in Northland’s 21st House District.
This sprawling region spans 15 counties, borders Vermont and Canada, and includes the Adirondack Park.
It is one of the reddest districts in the state, with more registered Republicans than Democrats.
In the 2024 presidential election, President Trump leads Democrat Kamala Harris by 24 points.
But some independent polls show the race is tight, with Gendebien leading by several percentage points.
Gendebien’s campaign called Vance’s trip a sign of desperation.
“Anthony Constantine hasn’t been able to find Northland for a month, so the White House will send the vice president to find Northland for him,” Gendebean’s campaign manager Michael Waller said in a press statement.
“You don’t put the vice president into a +24 seat the day before an election unless you know you’re going to lose it. If the administration wants to see what the trade war is doing, Ogdensburg is the right stop. The bridge is there. Ask anyone who works on the bridge.”
The Ogdensburg Bridge spans the St. Lawrence River and connects New York and Canada.
Constantine’s campaign had no immediate comment.