Anthony Constantino, a Trump-endorsed Republican and CEO of Sticker Mule, pledged to donate $174,000 — a full year’s congressional pay — to the family of Sgt. Eddie Ryan regardless of the outcome of the NY-21 primary, a move framed as both charity and a call to action for fellow Americans to support veterans and fight the political swamp.
At a campaign event in Queensbury, Constantino surprised the crowd by presenting Sgt. Ryan’s family with a handwritten note committing the donation, a gesture he says was inspired by a brief but powerful meeting earlier this year. He told reporters, “I planned to give away my entire congressional salary from day one,” and made clear the pledge is intended to set an example for people with means to step up. The message was direct and unvarnished, meant to rally support for veterans and push back against complacency.
Sgt. Eddie Ryan’s story is striking and hard to ignore; a former Marine Corps sniper, he was severely wounded by friendly fire in Iraq in 2005. He was shot twice in the head, suffered a traumatic brain injury and now lives with long-term mobility and speech challenges. Constantino says meeting Ryan, even briefly outside a local Republican committee meeting, left a lasting impression that moved him to act.
Constantino framed the donation as symbolic and motivational, saying, “I want this to become a symbolic gesture that encourages more Americans to fight, fight, fight for a better future while simultaneously inspiring other people of means to support our great Veterans.” That line captures his campaign tone: loud, unapologetic, and focused on stirring people into action rather than palatable politics as usual. The pledge is positioned to highlight values many voters respond to — service, sacrifice, and private citizens stepping up where government falls short.
Ryan responded to the announcement with visible surprise and gratitude, saying, “I’m still floored.” For veterans and their families, public commitments like this can translate into tangible support for medical care, adaptive equipment and daily living needs that can be hard to secure. The personal nature of the gift, delivered with a handwritten note, reinforces the candidate’s message that real people and real problems demand real action beyond political rhetoric.
On the political front, Constantino is running in the June 23 Republican primary against state Assembly Member Robert Smullen to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York’s 21st Congressional District. He has poured millions of his own money into the campaign and presents his bid as a direct challenge to entrenched interests. “It’s an opportunity to move the country in a positive direction in a big way,” he said, underscoring a broad, optimistic pitch to voters tired of the same old political calculus.
Constantino also leans heavily into anti-establishment language and the rhetoric of reform. “Once I saw first hand how bad the swamp that President Trump talks about so much really is, I felt I had no choice but to use my resources to fight it to create a better future for America,” he explained, tying his personal wealth and willingness to spend it to a larger fight against political bureaucracy. That line makes clear why he mixes generous private donations with combative campaign messaging — it’s about both policy and posture.
President Trump officially backed Constantino in April, posting, “It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Anthony Constantino, who is running to represent the fantastic people of New York’s 21st Congressional District,” which reinforced the candidate’s standing with core Republican voters. Constantino’s prior clash with local officials over a large pro-Trump sign at his factory also highlights his readiness to defend allies and causes loudly and publicly. For Republican voters in the district, the combination of high-profile endorsement, personal spending, and a public pledge to veterans creates a compelling narrative about leadership and priorities.
