Leader-Herald |
Ramifications of the biggest government and politics stories of 2025 will ripple for years, perhaps decades.
Whether it’s the opportunities — won or lost — for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a shift in the power dynamic in Clifton Park or Schenectady, or a new mayor in Gloversville, new people will call the shots in the Greater Capital Region.
And to succeed officials who have moved either up or out, even newer people seek to fill the void.
Here are some of the major politics stories of 2025:
Stefanik enters — and leaves — governor’s race
Stefanik of Schuylerville announced in November she would run for governor, setting into motion a series of races to succeed her in Congress, and in lower office as candidates sought to step up.
Five weeks later, she dropped out as Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, also a Republican, announced he would face her in a primary and President Donald Trump, a mentor of Stefanik, declined to endorse either. She decided to leave Congress at the end of her term.
In November, a Siena University poll showed Hochul led Stefanik by 19 points, including 42 points in New York City, 9 points in suburban New York and Long Island and 3 points in upstate communities. Hochul kept that lead in December.
Last year, Trump picked Stefanik to be the ambassador to the United Nations, but rescinded the nomination over concerns about Republicans’ narrow majority in the House. Stefanik gave up her leadership post as GOP conference chair to pursue the ambassadorship, but later gained the lesser GOP leadership chair post.
Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, was 30 when she was first elected to the House in 2014. She entered Congress as a moderate Republican but soon attached herself to Trump, reshaping her persona into an outspoken MAGA disciple.
NY-21 race heats up
Stefanik’s announcement that she’d run for governor set off a string of follow-on announcements: to succeed her representing the 21st Congressional District — and to succeed the people hoping to succeed Stefanik.
Assembly Member Robert Smullen, a Johnstown Republican, announced his candidacy Nov. 20 to a couple hundred supporters, many of whom are elected officials or GOP leaders, at a Johnstown hotel. He rapidly picked up more than 50 endorsements from seven of the 15 counties in the district and raised more than $500,000.
Anthony Constantino of Edinburg, the CEO of StickerMule, announced his candidacy Nov. 24 in front of a wall of frozen turkeys outside the Amsterdam company. He said he would self-fund his campaign with $5 million.
Two Democrats entered the race, continuing campaigns they began earlier in 2025 when Stefanik was being considered for the U.N. post.
Blake Gendebien, a Lisbon farmer, continues his campaign, and had $2.1 million on hand by October, the Federal Elections Commission reports.
Dylan Hewitt, a former White House trade official from South Glens Falls, also stayed in the race, and had $138,000 in October.
Charlie Potter of Gloversville, a member of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, announced Dec. 3 he hoped to succeed Smullen in the Assembly. He was followed by Johnstown Supervisor Christina VanValkenburgh on Dec. 30. Both are Republicans.
New Gloversville mayor takes office
Gary Antonucci takes the oath of office today as Gloversville’s mayor, succeeding Democrat Vincent DeSantis.
Antonucci, a Republican, said he would follow DeSantis’ work, focusing on specific areas and specific people — absentee landlords. “I want to make sure that [Route] 29A, when you come into the city, is spotless,” he said during the campaign. “It’s not going to take a lot of money.”
He also wants to make sure rental property owners are properly registered, and pursued for code violations.
DeSantis was appointed in 2019 following the resignation of Dayton King, who pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a misdemeanor, to satisfy felony charges that he falsified business records after an investigation showed he’d used the city’s postage meter for purposes other than city business.
DeSantis helped establish a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, about 60% of the city, to begin restoration. Part of that was designated a state........