Smullen drops congressional campaign after Oval Office meeting with Trump

GLOVERSVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Robert Smullen will not appear on the Conservative Party ballot line in New York’s 21st Congressional District this fall, following a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
Smullen and Trump discussed the need to unite Republicans and Conservatives to win NY-21 in November, according to a statement from Smullen.
“I am deeply honored to have met with President Trump and grateful for our discussions,” Smullen said. “I am confident in President Trump’s vision for this country and am energized about keeping NY-21 in Republican hands and finding an alternative path to continue public service myself.”
Smullen is a retired Marine colonel who served three tours in Afghanistan during a 24-year military career.
Smullen had a bitter campaign against the primary night winner Anthony Constantino in the Republican party race and if Smullen were to have held onto the Conservative line in November it would have created a 3-way race with Democrat Blake Gendebien.
Independent congressional candidate Christopher Schmidt is also doing a write-in campaign for NY-21.
Copyright 2026 WWNY. All rights reserved.



