Republican New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen has launched his campaign for Congress, seeking to fill the 21st District seat currently held by Elise Stefanik, who is running for governor.
On Thursday, Smullen, who represents the state’s 118th Assembly District, became the first Republican to enter the race for New York’s 21st Congressional District.
“To stand with President Trump as he strengthens our borders and restores law and order. To lower costs and stop the reckless inflation that Washington’s spending is doing to our country. To grow our upstate economy by investing in infrastructure and broadband and small businesses. To support our veterans and ensure that no one who ever wore the uniform is ever left behind,” Smullen said.
Smullen, who served for 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, emphasized his alignment with President Donald Trump to a room full of supporters in Johnstown. According to his campaign, Smullen is the only “Trump-appointed conservative” in the race. He served on the President’s Commission on White House Fellows during Trump’s first administration.
“To empower parents and ensure that every child has the future to learn, to grow and to succeed. And to back the blue, because safe communities are the foundation of a strong America. That’s what President Trump calls the America First agenda, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for in Congress,” Smullen said.
Lifelong Johnstown resident Pat Buell said she is drawn to Smullen because of his allegiance to Trump.
“The economy is better than it was under the previous administration, but there are some economic issues that I think need to be addressed. I go to the grocery store and I wonder how families can afford their groceries. So that’s a huge, huge issue for me,” Buell said.
Speaking to reporters, Smullen said affordability is a top issue, and he views an America First agenda as the best way to address constituents’ concerns.
“We need to stop inflation from making things very expensive for our people. That means stopping runaway spending to make sure that all of our people can afford to live here. We also need to make sure that businesses are able to come back to upstate New York — that’s part of the America First agenda. It’s to bring businesses back to the United States. For far too long our children, we’ve raised them, we’ve educated them, and then they’ve moved away for other opportunities. Now is the time to give them a place they can call home for their entire lives,” Smullen said.
Despite his ties to the Trump administration, Smullen said he believes he can reach independent voters.
“I actually learned in the United States Marine Corps — which is part of the military and, I think, the finest institution of national unity that we have, where Americans come from all walks of life, from all over the country — they work together, they have a common mission, and that’s to serve the United States of America. I’d like to take that same idea into the U.S. Congress. I’ll work with anybody as long as it’s in the cause of serving the people in upstate New York — that’s what upstate first means,” Smullen said.
Independents could be key in the district, which Democratic Rep. Bill Owens represented before Stefanik took office in 2014.
The seat is opening after Stefanik announced earlier this month that she would challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Earlier this year, Stefanik was thought to be Trump’s pick to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, potentially setting the stage for a special election. That nomination fell through, but not before Democrat Blake Gendebien, a Lisbon dairy farmer, launched his campaign for NY-21.
Democrats Gendebien and Dylan Hewitt, a progressive from South Glens Falls, have both previously declared their candidacies for the seat.
