New York GOP candidate accuses rival of dumping dead cattle; state agency says no violation found

Anthony Constantino, a Republican candidate for the upstate New York House seat held by Rep. Elise Stefanik, said at a press conference on Monday that his Democratic opponent, St. Lawrence County dairy farmer Blake Gendebien, is "regularly dumping garbage into a local waterway," calling it a violation of multiple state and federal laws. A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said officers visited Gendebien's farm on Sept. 3 and did not find a violation, and Gendebien's campaign said the agency had previously investigated the site after a complaint and cleared him.

Constantino showed reporters aerial photographs he said were taken by private investigators near Gendebien's farm in Ogdensburg, and drone footage of the area shown at the press conference carried a voice saying, "If Blake won't take care of his land, why would he take care of us?" Constantino also called Gendebien a "snob" with an "abusive anti-American temperament."

At Constantino's discretion, the private investigators filed a report with state police last week and called for a probe into the alleged illegal dumping. A state police spokesperson confirmed to The Post that the complaint had been received and said "the matter remains under investigation." A sworn statement included in the complaint, from a former employee of Gendebien's dairy farm whom Constantino's campaign would not identify, also alleged that Gendebien hired at least one undocumented Mexican migrant before the person obtained legal status to work in the US. The person said he was instructed by Gendebien to dispose of dead cows by hauling them over an embankment into a creek, and that he saw heaping piles of cow carcasses and junk. "I estimate approximately twenty to thirty deceased cattle were disposed of there during my employment," the person wrote.

Gendebien's campaign told The Post that the DEC had previously investigated the site after a complaint and "cleared" him. A DEC spokesperson said its officers visited the Democrat's farm on Sept. 3 and did not find a violation.

Gendebien declared his candidacy for Stefanik's New York House seat in early 2025, after the Republican congresswoman was tapped as President Trump's UN ambassador and before her nomination was pulled. Stefanik carried the district with 62% of the vote in 2024. House Democrats' campaign arm added the North Country district to its "Red to Blue" list of potentially winnable races, a move rumored to come with a spending plan by national Democrats. The Cook Political Report recently moved the race from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican."

Asked on Monday whether he is worried about national Democrats' interest in the race, Constantino brushed it off as a ploy to increase their fundraising numbers. "Every time a story comes out that this race is competitive, the betting markets either remain unchanged or they move more in my favor," Constantino said, adding that Kalshi and Polymarket wagers show him leading the race.

• The source does not identify the former employee who signed the sworn statement, stating only that Constantino's campaign would not name the person.
• The source does not state whether the DEC visit on Sept. 3 stemmed from the same complaint the agency is said to have already investigated.
• The source does not state whether state police have opened a formal investigation into the dumping allegations beyond confirming receipt of the complaint and that the matter remains under investigation.
• The source does not state the size of any spending plan by national Democrats beyond describing it as rumored.
• The source does not state the dollar amounts or odds behind the Kalshi and Polymarket wagers Constantino cited as showing him leading.
• The source does not state whether Gendebien has responded to the allegation that he hired an undocumented Mexican migrant before the person obtained legal status to work in the US.

1. New York Post — original

Read the original at New York Post

• Swedish police shoot armed man outside Stockholm's Royal Palace
• Saints lose 45-24 to Falcons at home; Shough says he would boo too
• UC Irvine student Amir Eftekhar, 18, found dead in dorm room; coroner rules suicide
• Iran summons French ambassador over treatment of Paris protesters
• Irish PM Martin says US could play role in a future push for a united Ireland
• Influencer Abeeeer apologizes after Berlin Marathon bike ride; sponsor Brooks drops her