Blue state CEO who put up 100-foot pro-Trump sign to spend $2.6 million campaigning for Congress

FIRST ON FOX: Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino has officially thrown his hat in the ring to fill the vacancy left by New York attorney Elise Stefanik who was appointed to serve in the Trump administration.

The pro-Trump businessman, who put up a 100-foot “Vote for Trump” sign in upstate New York before the election, tells Fox News Digital he will use $2.6 million to fund his bid to succeed Stefanik as U.S. ambassador. at the United Nations in January.

“My phones were ringing with people encouraging me to run, who wanted me to run,” said Constantino, 40, in an interview. “And like President Trump, he was an outsider who brought a great skill to politics, a good skill set in government, I think the country needs more people with the same backgrounds as outsiders, people with skills. And I am one of them.”

Stefanik currently represents New York’s 21st District, which includes the staunchly Republican North Country, a large area of ​​northern New York that includes most of the Adirondack Mountains region and the Thousand Islands. He is expected to resign from Congress after President-elect Trump nominated him to represent America at the UN

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“I am honored to nominate Chairman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, strong and intelligent champion of America First,” Trump said.

Stefanik accepted the nomination with excitement, saying, “I am honored to receive President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations. During my conversation with President Trump, I explained how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to receiving the support of my colleagues in the Senate of The historic election of President Trump has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead – both at home and abroad.”

His nomination sets the stage for a special election that will fill his seat in the 21st District after him successful re-election bid last week. Stefanik won with more than 24% of the vote against her opponent, Paula Collins.

Constantino filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission on Thursday to establish his campaign committee. A former registered Democrat, he is now one of several Republicans expected to run for the GOP nomination, a group likely to include veteran lawmakers, local officials and other experienced politicians. What makes him stand out in his opinion is that he was not interested in entering politics until about three months ago.

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Illuminated “Vote for Trump” sign at 26 Elk Street, Amsterdam, New York. (@stickermule | Instagram)

“The best thing about my situation, until recently, I had no ambitions in politics, which I think makes me a better person than I am,” she said. “I just got involved because a bullet hit President Trump, I spoke out right away, I sent a message to 5 million customers that was a very powerful message.”

An assassin’s bullet hit Trump in the right ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The shooting injured two others in the crowd and killed a third, volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore.

Constantino says he was inspired by that horrific act of violence to stand up against “anti-Trump hatred” and to seek to unite the country. He worked “around the clock” to support Trump’s White House campaign, forming a political committee and winning over local Democratic officials who sued to remove his $125,000 pro-Trump sign from the renovated Fownes glove factory building in Amsterdam.

“President Trump has done really great things. He’s a great person. He’s done great things for the world. And he doesn’t deserve all the hate directed at him, and neither do his supporters,” Constantino previously told Fox. Digital News.

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Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino speaks at an event to unveil his 100-foot “Vote for Trump” sign in Amsterdam, New York. (Paul Antonelli)

Now that Trump has won a historic victory, Constantino believes the anti-Trump spirit that consumed half of the country before the election is dying. And with a desire to “do big things” and make an impact, he’s eyeing a seat in Congress.

“I like to make an impact. I like to do big things. And right now, this is probably the biggest, most impactful thing I can do with my life,” he said.

If elected, Constantino said his priorities will be to support businesses and help make New York a fun place to live.

“The biggest problem in New York is that people are leaving, and we have to bring energy and enthusiasm back to New York. And we have to show America that New York is safe for people from all parties, Democrats and Republicans alike,” he said.

There will be no regular Republican primary in the special election. Instead, both the GOP and Democratic nominees will be chosen by the party’s district chairs. It’s a plan that could benefit political insiders – other candidates for the position include Rep. Marc Molinaro, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, Sens. Dan Stec and Jake Ashby and Council members Chris Tague and Robert Smullen, according to City & State. New York.

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But Constantino enters the fray as a self-made rich man and a favorite of the online MAGA movement thanks to his viral pro-Trump brand. He plans to meet with the GOP chairmen in his district to discuss how he can support his candidacy without relying on party resources. He hopes that Stefanik will support him as he may play as king when it comes to his successor.

“I’m going to finance my campaign. I don’t want to be a star in the party,” Constantino told Fox News Digital. “I want people to know that I will not pay attention to any special interests. I am doing this for the right reasons. I will always do what I think is right, what I think is right, right and best. for the people.”

Bailey Hill of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.