Representative in Congress District 21 in Statewide, New York

2026 Primary Election

• Michael Metzgier — Candidate for U.S. House New York District 21 in New York

  Michael Metzgier is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District, running in the 2026 election as a member of the American Independent Party. He is running for the open seat vacated by former Representative Elise Stefanik, who did not seek re-election. Very little public information is currently available regarding Metzgier's professional background, campaign platform, or biographical details prior to his entry into the congressional race.

• Pamela Marshall — Candidate for Representative in Congress in NY

  Pamela Marshall is a Democratic political candidate from New York. She briefly declared her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New York's 21st Congressional District in a 2025 special election. The special election was later canceled following the withdrawal of incumbent Elise Stefanik's nomination for a United Nations ambassadorship.

• Richard Grayson — Writer [1.3] in Brooklyn, NY

  Richard Grayson is an American writer, political activist, and perennial candidate known for his satiric runs for public office. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he has run for numerous offices across multiple states, including Arizona, Wyoming, and Florida. Grayson holds a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, a master's from the College of Staten Island, and a law degree from the University of Florida. He is running as a Communist Party candidate for New York's 21st Congressional District.

• Paula Collins — Cannabis Tax Attorney in Canton, NY

  Paula Collins is a cannabis tax attorney, former special education teacher, and classical pianist. She earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University, a graduate degree from the University of Houston, and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. In 2024, Collins was the Democratic nominee for New York's 21st Congressional District, ultimately losing to incumbent Elise Stefanik. She is running again to represent the same district in the 2026 election.

• Dylan Hewitt — Candidate for Representative in Congress in NY

  Dylan Hewitt is a former White House trade official and political candidate. A seventh-generation Upstate New Yorker from South Glens Falls, he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked as a senior advisor to an economic nonprofit and served on diplomatic missions. Hewitt ran as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st District in 2026, but suspended his campaign in March 2026.

• Andrew Henson — Candidate for Representative in Congress in NY

  Andrew Henson is a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New York's 21st Congressional District in the 2026 elections. He filed to compete in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 23, 2026, for the open seat previously held by incumbent Elise Stefanik.

• Anthony Constantino — Founder and CEO of Sticker Mule in Edinburg, NY

  Anthony Constantino is the founder and CEO of Sticker Mule, a custom printing company based in Amsterdam, New York. A businessman and political newcomer, Constantino is running as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District in the 2026 election, seeking to succeed outgoing Representative Elise Stefanik. He is entirely self-funding his congressional campaign and emphasizes his experience as an entrepreneur and his support for Donald Trump.

• Allen Caruso — CEO of THORN + ROOTS and Owner of First Integrity Homes in Saratoga Springs, NY

  Allen Caruso is a small business owner, CEO of the restaurant franchise THORN + ROOTS, and a real estate broker and owner of First Integrity Homes [1.8]. Based in Saratoga Springs, New York, he is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District. Caruso has also launched a campaign for the 113th District of the New York State Assembly. His platform focuses on restoring affordability, supporting small businesses, and strengthening public safety.

• Robert Smullen — New York State Assemblymember in Johnstown, NY

  Robert Smullen is a Republican member of the New York State Assembly representing District 118, a position he has held since 2019. He is a retired United States Marine Corps Colonel who served for 24 years, including three combat tours in Afghanistan. Prior to his time in the state legislature, Smullen served as a White House Fellow under President George W. Bush. He is currently running for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New York's 21st Congressional District.

• Elise Stefanik — Incumbent Representative in Congress in Schuylerville, NY

  Elise Stefanik is the incumbent U.S. Representative for New York's 21st Congressional District, first elected in 2014. She serves as the Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, making her the highest-ranking woman in House Republican leadership. Before her election to Congress, Stefanik worked in her family's wholesale plywood distribution business in Upstate New York. She resides in Schuylerville, New York, with her husband and son.

• John Gunther — Candidate for Representative in Congress in Shushan, NY

  John Gunther is a Democratic candidate for New York's 21st Congressional District. He previously served as the founder and President of The Toy Works Incorporated in Middle Falls, a worldwide manufacturing company, for 48 years. He is a resident of Shushan, a hamlet in the town of Salem, New York, where he has lived for 20 years.

• Christopher Schmidt — Candidate for Representative in Congress in Hudson Falls, NY

  Christopher Schmidt is an independent candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District in 2026. A resident of Hudson Falls in Washington County, his campaign focuses on government accountability, rural healthcare access, lowering living costs, and supporting local agriculture. In February 2026, Schmidt filed a federal lawsuit challenging New York's 3,500 signature requirement for independent congressional candidates as unconstitutional.

• Stuart Amoriell — Owner of The Pickled Pig in Lake Placid, NY

  Stuart Amoriell is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District. A resident of Lake Placid, New York, he is the owner and operator of The Pickled Pig restaurant. Amoriell's campaign focuses on addressing regional affordability, expanding access to healthcare, and strengthening local economies in Northern New York. His platform includes investing in community infrastructure, supporting workforce development, and expanding affordable housing.

• Otto Miller — Candidate for Representative in Congress in Queensbury, NY

  Otto Miller is a Republican candidate for New York's 21st Congressional District. A 2015 graduate of Queensbury High School, Miller studied criminal justice at SUNY Adirondack and earned a degree in homeland security from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024. Paralyzed from the waist down following a fall in 2016, Miller describes himself as an independent thinker who leans conservative and advocates for more efficient energy sources and an overhaul of the health insurance system.

• Maylon Haller — Candidate for Representative in Congress in Amsterdam, NY

  Maylon Haller is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District for the 2026 election. Born in North Carolina and raised in Amsterdam, New York, Haller has experience working as a contractor. Describing himself as a working-class democratic socialist, his campaign priorities include bolstering social programs and public education. In 2025, he signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge to support term limits for members of Congress.

• Blake Gendebien — Dairy Farmer and Small Business Owner in Lisbon, NY

  Blake Gendebien is a second-generation dairy farmer and small business owner running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 21st Congressional District [1.2]. Born and raised in Lisbon, New York, he owns and operates Twin Mill Farms alongside his family. Gendebien previously served as Vice Chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark and was a member of the Lisbon Central School Board. Additionally, he co-founded the Jules of Life Foundation to support families facing pediatric cancer.