Democrats Hope to Try New Tactic in N.Y. Race

Democratic leaders want to recruit state Assembly member and former corrections officer D. Billy Jones. They hope his working-class background will resonate in the mostly rural district. Some unsuccessful past candidates for the seat had looser local ties and wealthier backgrounds.

"Somebody indigenous to the area actually has an advantage because they would understand the challenges because they've lived it-as opposed to someone who parachutes in," said Lynne Boecher, a Democratic leader from Warren County.

GOP's advantage

The special election would fill the seat of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), Presidentelect Donald Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. New York's governor must set an election date within roughly 90 days of a vacancy. Florida officials have scheduled special elections for April 1 to replace Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, who resigned to pursue nominations for Trump's administration. Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration in November. The House Ethics Committee in December released a report detailing sexual-misconduct and other allegations against him. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.

"This race [for Stefanik's seat] will be a referendum on President Trump's first 100 days. Everybody in the country is going to be watching." said Vince Casale, a Republican consultant based in upstate New York.

Strategists said Republicans have an advantage. Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the district by around 20 points, and the 15-county district has about 76,000 more enrolled Republicans than Democrats. Stefanik won an easy re-election to a sixth term over Paula Collins, a lawyer who settled in the district earlier this year.

Jones, 50 years old, worked for 20 years at the Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone, N.Y., as he rose in local politics. He said he was still considering whether to enter the race. He faulted his party for not listening to voters' concerns on the economy ahead of this year's elections.

"The secret is to talk to people instead of talking at them," Jones said. "People did not feel the economy was going well. You can't make people feel something if they're not feeling it."

Other potential Democratic candidates include Collins and Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer. There are no primaries in New York special elections, and local party leaders choose their standard-bearers.

Fighting for power

There is more jockeying for the Republican nomination. Local party leaders met in December at a VFW Hall to talk about their procedures. "I'm getting 20 calls a day about this," said Joe Suhrada, Republican chairman in Saratoga County.

Contenders include two other state lawmakers, Chris Tague of Schoharie County and Dan Stec of Warren County, as well as Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, a former pilot.

Suhrada said he wanted a candidate who was electable but also understood the minutiae involved with the joblikely someone who had served in a lower government office.

Republicans involved in the process said they expect Trump and Stefanik to endorse a candidate. Aspirants are emphasizing their ties to the president-elect, including some such as Tague, who a decade ago encouraged Trump to run for governor.

Republican leaders said McLaughlin was attractive in part because he successfully defended himself against criminal charges of misusing campaign funds brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who also brought civil cases against Trump. McLaughlin has criticized James's handling of the Trump case.

McLaughlin said in an interview that he has a broader record, including rehabilitating county facilities and standing up to Covid-related mandates by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Stec represents more-populous parts of the congressional district but several Republican leaders expressed concern that he declined to endorse Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Stec said he voted for Trump three times. "Noise to the contrary is just intended to bolster support for fledgling candidates that don't have my proven record and experience," he said.

Anthony Constantino, a 42-year-old political neophyte, announced his bid after traveling to Mar-a-Lago with Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser. Constantino operates a printing company called Sticker Mule in Amsterdam, N.Y.

He gained attention earlier this year for placing a large "Vote for Trump" sign on the roof of one of his company's buildings and winning a court case against city officials who sought to have it removed.

Constantino, who spent time as a boxer in Mexico City, said he wasn't familiar with the details of issues including the pending debate about reauthorization of the 2017 federal tax law.

"My number one principle in business is, move quickly. The other is, try to solve the biggest problems that are within your power to solve," he said.

"This seat is an opportunity for me to do that."