Democrat · New York's 21st District · 2026
Blake Gendebien
Gendebien grew up on a North Country dairy farm.
Biography
Blake Gendebien grew up on a North Country dairy farm started by his parents after their Peace Corps service.1 He and his wife, Carmen, now operate Twin Mill Farms with their three sons.1 His campaign biography describes years of getting up before dawn to milk cows and feed the herd.1 It also describes Fourth of July gatherings at the farm, with barbecues, fireworks and friendly competitions bringing people together.1
He earned an agriculture degree and worked for a farm equipment manufacturer before returning to farming.1 He and Carmen met in Atlanta and returned to the North Country in the early 2000s to buy a farm neighboring his parents'.2
Gendebien's community roles have included Lisbon school board president and vice chair of Agri-Mark's cooperative board.3 He also coached junior varsity basketball at Lisbon Central School for five years.2 He and Carmen founded the Jules of Life Foundation to help families whose children have cancer navigate care and find support.13
The Democrat faces Republican Anthony Constantino in the open congressional race.4 His priorities include protecting Medicare and Medicaid, expanding telehealth and patient transportation, improving legal farmworker programs, hiring more border officers and protecting abortion rights.5 He also favors vocational training and investment in rural roads, bridges and broadband.5
Record and controversies
Farm allegation and source payment
About both candidates: Blake Gendebien and Anthony Constantino
Constantino accused Gendebien of illegal dumping on his farm; Gendebien denied ordering workers to dump dead cattle and described the accusations as retaliation by a former employee fired for cause.6 October 27 reporting quoted DEC saying it had closed the September complaint after finding no violations, with no open investigation.7
City & State identified a $28,000 campaign payment to someone with the same name as the former worker's partner, who had supplied allegations, labeled GOTV strategy consulting.6 Constantino declined to specify the work and called the payment a small part of his spending.6 He also asserted the investigation had reopened, citing his investigator's account of evidence review; DEC said none was open as of October 27.6
Campaign worker complaint
NCPR reported October 5 that a private citizen filed an FEC complaint questioning whether a finance assistant from Ukraine participated in campaign decisions in violation of election rules.8 Campaign manager Michael Waller said finance assistants had no decision making authority and the campaign followed FEC rules.8 Federal regulations prohibit foreign nationals' participation in campaign decisions and exclude lawful permanent residents from that definition.9 The agency would not confirm receipt of the complaint for NCPR's report.8