LISBON -- The Democratic Chairs of NY-21 are unanimously supporting Blake Gendebien as their special election candidate for the New York 21st Congressional District.
Gendebien will now run against an unknown Republican candidate to replace outgoing Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Stefanik is likely to be approved as President Donald Trump's pick as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the coming days.
Though no timetable has been established for the election, it is believed real estate salesperson Liz Joy, of Glens Falls, and local businessman Josh Parker, of Canton, along with St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators Chairman David Forsythe, State Senator Dan Stec, businessman Anthony Constantino and up to seven other potential nominees are still in the running.

“The 15 Democratic Chairmen of NY-21 announced their unanimous support for longtime North Country resident Blake Gendebien as the candidate they will nominate when and if a Special Election is called. Gendebien, owner and President of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon, New York, since 2002 as well as Vice-Chairman of Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative covering New York and New England, brings an authentic voice that will fight for sensible solutions to the challenges affecting NY-21 and this nation. As a husband, father, farmer, small business owner and former school board member, Blake will fight to lower costs and secure our borders. An outsider to the political arena, Blake Gendebien embodies the voice and grit that distinguishes this district,” Democratic Chairs said in a release.
Although Gendebien declined to comment for this story, he did issue an official statement shortly after the announcement.
“I’m honored and deeply grateful to each of the 15 Democratic chairs. They have run a thoughtful process that has brought out the best in each of us at a particularly challenging time. No one was expecting a special election, but they stepped up,” said Gendebien. “This is just the beginning. I’m not going to stop working until we win and can make life in the North Country a whole lot better and a whole lot more affordable.”
In a recent interview with North Country This Week, Gendebien said he is a candidate who is not beholden to parties and will seek to represent the North Country.
“I'm not a politician. I'm a farmer at heart who cares about my neighbors. I don't have pressure from Albany. I don't have pressure from D.C.”
He said he is disappointed in government gridlock and jockeying for power he's seen on both sides of the aisle.
"It resulted in a lot of inaction in the North Country," he said.
Gendebien said when he sees a car off the road, he doesn’t ask what their political affiliation is, he hooks his chain up and pulls them out.
He plans to govern the same way. He said that if he’s elected to congress he’ll be representing all of the constituents regardless of their party membership.
“I do not see myself being a victim of the lines being drawn. This is my neighborhood,” he said.
Gendebien wants to go to D.C. as an advocate for the entire North Country.
He wants to tackle the problems that face everyone right now. That includes reducing grocery prices, fuel prices and holding line on tax burdens.
He says there needs to be an emphasis put on housing initiatives to create something people can afford and make sure help is in place to address an aging electorate as senior care is vanishing in the North Country.
Among his top priorities, though, are ensuring healthcare is affordable and accessible. That includes ensuring people don’t have to travel hours to see specialists and that costs associated with health care aren’t crippling families.
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