Can a Pro-Trump Sign from an Upstate New Yorker Lead the Way to Congress?
Anthony Constantino is aiming to unseat Rep. Elise Stefanik in the House.
TroibNews 
ALBANY, New York — A 42-year-old boxer in upstate New York is utilizing the visibility from the 100-foot sign he constructed to support Donald Trump—along with allies such as Roger Stone and the president-elect’s son—as a platform to pursue the House seat currently held by Rep. Elise Stefanik.
The creator of the sign, Anthony Constantino, is eager to fill Stefanik’s position and has been engaging with GOP leaders who have the authority to choose her replacement.
Constantino, who founded the printing company Sticker Mule, has connections to the Trump family. He shared with PMG that he had dinner with Donald Trump Jr. earlier this year and visited Mar-a-Lago last November. Additionally, he has been receiving support and informal guidance from Stone, a longtime ally of Trump.
Now, Constantino is channeling the attention he garnered from his enthusiastic Trump advocacy and a public dispute with local officials regarding his sign into a campaign for the House. His agenda largely revolves around addressing the animosity towards the incoming president.
“The country needs more people like President Trump, Elon Musk, people like myself who don’t aspire to be politically involved people, but just want to do what’s right for the country,” Constantino stated during an interview.
A special election for the large, predominantly Republican district—which stretches from the outskirts of Albany to the Canadian border—has not yet been scheduled, and Stefanik continues to serve in the House as her nomination to the U.N. awaits Senate confirmation. An endorsement from Trump or Stefanik could significantly influence the decision-making of county leaders in selecting the nominee, making it a highly sought-after endorsement by candidates, many of whom are maintaining a low profile out of respect for Stefanik and to avoid appearing overly eager.
“Why would you not want to hear the input from Team Elise and Team Trump?” Fulton County GOP Chair Susan McNeil remarked. “Of course we want to hear from them.”
Trump has turned to the House GOP conference to fill positions in his administration—choices that will lead to special elections in states such as New York and Florida. Although these moves will temporarily reduce the slim GOP majority, they may also solidify Trump’s influence over the party by appointing preferred successors for those lawmakers.
In previous races, Trump’s political endorsements have produced mixed results, sometimes resulting in disappointing outcomes for Republicans. He endorsed candidates like Alabama’s Roy Moore and Georgia’s Herschel Walker, both of whom were defeated by Democrats.
Constantino, who is known for self-promotion on conservative podcasts and cable TV, embodies a new cadre of candidates emerging in the Trump era. He maintains a prominent presence on X, where he posts his media appearances, highlights his business, and advocates for charitable efforts.
Should he be selected as the nominee, he would surpass established Republicans also competing for Stefanik’s position, including state legislators, a former House contender, and the party’s 2022 Senate nominee, Joe Pinion. Constantino’s unconventional path to both campaigning and politics reflects the way Trump has disrupted traditional Republican dynamics, even at a local level.
Trump’s transition team has not responded to requests for comments regarding a potential endorsement.
Once a Democrat who registered to vote while supporting a high school friend running for office in Albany, Constantino recently switched his registration to the GOP. However, one Republican county chair informed PMG that they did not view his party change as a significant obstacle.
All prospective candidates align with pro-Trump sentiments, consistent with a party dominated by the president-elect’s following. Although Stefanik was initially critical of Trump, she became a staunch defender during his first impeachment.
Constantino, however, stands out due to the intensity of his support for Trump, potentially attracting the most national attention among his fellow Republicans.
He gained prominence among Trump supporters last summer when he erected a massive sign in Amsterdam, New York, endorsing the GOP presidential nominee. This act was inspired by his reaction to the attempted attack on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
“One of the biggest problems in the country is anti-Trump hate and hatred toward Trump supporters,” Constantino remarked.
The sign sparked controversy, leading to the city’s Democratic mayor seeking a court order for its removal, claiming it posed a distraction to drivers. Constantino’s subsequent battle with local officials earned him overnight recognition within Trump’s MAGA base, catching the eyes of figures like Stone, who reached out to him. He even received a supportive letter from Trump and later dined with Donald Jr.
A state court eventually ruled in Constantino’s favor regarding the sign, allowing it to remain in place for a party. The mayor, Michael Cinquanti, did not respond to requests for comment.
The dispute with city officials garnered attention from conservative media, including Newsmax and Fox News. Stone praised Constantino on a podcast, likening him to Trump and Ronald Reagan.
“I would argue that your lack of political experience is not a negative, it’s actually a plus,” Stone commented. “This is what the Founding Fathers actually envisioned.”
Stone has not responded to outreach for comments. However, Constantino acknowledged, “there is a mixed opinion about Roger,” adding that he's taken advice from the controversial Republican strategist, whose prison sentence for obstruction was commuted by Trump in 2020.
“Roger appreciated what I did with the sign,” he stated. “I got to know him through that. He’s been one of my biggest advocates.”
Founded in 2010, Constantino’s Sticker Mule specializes in customized stickers, labels, and packaging, employing over 1,200 people in an upstate city located about 40 minutes west of Albany. While most employees are based in upstate New York, the company also has operations in Italy for the European market. Constantino, who became a professional boxer in 2022, holds a 4-1 record, including three professional fights, but has temporarily paused his boxing career.
Venturing into politics presents a distinct challenge, and he established a campaign committee this month. If local Republican leaders do not select him for the special election, Constantino intends to pursue the GOP nomination for the 2026 election.
He plans to finance his campaign with $2.6 million he claims to have made from investments in the electric vehicle company Tesla, purchasing shares when the price fell following Musk's acquisition of Twitter. Constantino has shared a screenshot, allegedly from his brokerage account, as proof of his financial resources.
Republican county chairs in the district are not expected to make a decision until after Stefanik receives Senate confirmation. Nonetheless, some local GOP leaders are intrigued by Constantino’s unique journey into politics.
“Like millions of Americans he’s become politically aware following Donald Trump—and a new brand of politics,” said Saratoga County Republican Chair Joe Suhrada.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
The creator of the sign, Anthony Constantino, is eager to fill Stefanik’s position and has been engaging with GOP leaders who have the authority to choose her replacement.
Constantino, who founded the printing company Sticker Mule, has connections to the Trump family. He shared with PMG that he had dinner with Donald Trump Jr. earlier this year and visited Mar-a-Lago last November. Additionally, he has been receiving support and informal guidance from Stone, a longtime ally of Trump.
Now, Constantino is channeling the attention he garnered from his enthusiastic Trump advocacy and a public dispute with local officials regarding his sign into a campaign for the House. His agenda largely revolves around addressing the animosity towards the incoming president.
“The country needs more people like President Trump, Elon Musk, people like myself who don’t aspire to be politically involved people, but just want to do what’s right for the country,” Constantino stated during an interview.
A special election for the large, predominantly Republican district—which stretches from the outskirts of Albany to the Canadian border—has not yet been scheduled, and Stefanik continues to serve in the House as her nomination to the U.N. awaits Senate confirmation. An endorsement from Trump or Stefanik could significantly influence the decision-making of county leaders in selecting the nominee, making it a highly sought-after endorsement by candidates, many of whom are maintaining a low profile out of respect for Stefanik and to avoid appearing overly eager.
“Why would you not want to hear the input from Team Elise and Team Trump?” Fulton County GOP Chair Susan McNeil remarked. “Of course we want to hear from them.”
Trump has turned to the House GOP conference to fill positions in his administration—choices that will lead to special elections in states such as New York and Florida. Although these moves will temporarily reduce the slim GOP majority, they may also solidify Trump’s influence over the party by appointing preferred successors for those lawmakers.
In previous races, Trump’s political endorsements have produced mixed results, sometimes resulting in disappointing outcomes for Republicans. He endorsed candidates like Alabama’s Roy Moore and Georgia’s Herschel Walker, both of whom were defeated by Democrats.
Constantino, who is known for self-promotion on conservative podcasts and cable TV, embodies a new cadre of candidates emerging in the Trump era. He maintains a prominent presence on X, where he posts his media appearances, highlights his business, and advocates for charitable efforts.
Should he be selected as the nominee, he would surpass established Republicans also competing for Stefanik’s position, including state legislators, a former House contender, and the party’s 2022 Senate nominee, Joe Pinion. Constantino’s unconventional path to both campaigning and politics reflects the way Trump has disrupted traditional Republican dynamics, even at a local level.
Trump’s transition team has not responded to requests for comments regarding a potential endorsement.
Once a Democrat who registered to vote while supporting a high school friend running for office in Albany, Constantino recently switched his registration to the GOP. However, one Republican county chair informed PMG that they did not view his party change as a significant obstacle.
All prospective candidates align with pro-Trump sentiments, consistent with a party dominated by the president-elect’s following. Although Stefanik was initially critical of Trump, she became a staunch defender during his first impeachment.
Constantino, however, stands out due to the intensity of his support for Trump, potentially attracting the most national attention among his fellow Republicans.
He gained prominence among Trump supporters last summer when he erected a massive sign in Amsterdam, New York, endorsing the GOP presidential nominee. This act was inspired by his reaction to the attempted attack on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
“One of the biggest problems in the country is anti-Trump hate and hatred toward Trump supporters,” Constantino remarked.
The sign sparked controversy, leading to the city’s Democratic mayor seeking a court order for its removal, claiming it posed a distraction to drivers. Constantino’s subsequent battle with local officials earned him overnight recognition within Trump’s MAGA base, catching the eyes of figures like Stone, who reached out to him. He even received a supportive letter from Trump and later dined with Donald Jr.
A state court eventually ruled in Constantino’s favor regarding the sign, allowing it to remain in place for a party. The mayor, Michael Cinquanti, did not respond to requests for comment.
The dispute with city officials garnered attention from conservative media, including Newsmax and Fox News. Stone praised Constantino on a podcast, likening him to Trump and Ronald Reagan.
“I would argue that your lack of political experience is not a negative, it’s actually a plus,” Stone commented. “This is what the Founding Fathers actually envisioned.”
Stone has not responded to outreach for comments. However, Constantino acknowledged, “there is a mixed opinion about Roger,” adding that he's taken advice from the controversial Republican strategist, whose prison sentence for obstruction was commuted by Trump in 2020.
“Roger appreciated what I did with the sign,” he stated. “I got to know him through that. He’s been one of my biggest advocates.”
Founded in 2010, Constantino’s Sticker Mule specializes in customized stickers, labels, and packaging, employing over 1,200 people in an upstate city located about 40 minutes west of Albany. While most employees are based in upstate New York, the company also has operations in Italy for the European market. Constantino, who became a professional boxer in 2022, holds a 4-1 record, including three professional fights, but has temporarily paused his boxing career.
Venturing into politics presents a distinct challenge, and he established a campaign committee this month. If local Republican leaders do not select him for the special election, Constantino intends to pursue the GOP nomination for the 2026 election.
He plans to finance his campaign with $2.6 million he claims to have made from investments in the electric vehicle company Tesla, purchasing shares when the price fell following Musk's acquisition of Twitter. Constantino has shared a screenshot, allegedly from his brokerage account, as proof of his financial resources.
Republican county chairs in the district are not expected to make a decision until after Stefanik receives Senate confirmation. Nonetheless, some local GOP leaders are intrigued by Constantino’s unique journey into politics.
“Like millions of Americans he’s become politically aware following Donald Trump—and a new brand of politics,” said Saratoga County Republican Chair Joe Suhrada.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
