The race to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik in upstate New York heats up with a new challenger

new York State Sen. Dan Stec, a Republican and Navy veteran, is running for Congress.

Stec has thrown her hat in the ring to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who will vacate her seat in the House of Representatives to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. A special election for New York’s 21st Congressional District will be held once Stefanik officially leaves Congress.

“At the end of the day, it’s about representing the district, and from 12 years in Albany, I know what it means to represent the district and if I can do it in Albany, I’m sure I can do it in Washington.” Stec told WWNY in an interview on December 24.

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The North Country native, whose state Senate district is in Stefanik’s congressional district, argued that he was the best candidate to win the Republican seat because he enjoys the most high notoriety.

“My argument is that I am the most electable. If we are concerned about retaining this seat and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, you want to run the candidate most likely to win and no one can compare the numbers like I do with the part of the district that I already represent,” Stec told the outlet.

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He highlighted his record in the New York Legislature and the 104,000 votes he won in previous state Senate elections, nearly half the total Stefanik received during his run for office. re-election, to support his argument that he is best placed. to defeat the Democratic candidate in the special election.

“I’m proud of my background, my resume and my principles. I don’t have any votes that I’m embarrassed to have to explain like maybe someone on the other side of the aisle with whom I I worked should do it,” said Stec.

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Stefanik won a sixth term representing the district that encompasses North County, New York, but President-elect Donald Trump chose her in November to serve that term. the UN ambassador in his new office.

In the campaign to become the Republican nominee to succeed Stefanik, Stec joins Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino, a political outsider whose claim to fame is a 100-foot “Vote for Trump” sign he installed in North Texas. New York State. Constantino is self-funding his campaign and has pledged $2.6 million for the effort.

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Other Republicans mentioned as possible candidates include state Reps. Robert Smullen and Christopher Tague; and Rensselaer County Executive Steven McLaughlin, according to WWNY. Possible Democratic candidates include Rep. Billy Jones, whose state district is just east of St. Lawrence County, as well as former unsuccessful challengers to Stefanik such as Matt Castelli and Paula Collins.

There will be no traditional Republican primary for the special election. Instead, Republican and Democratic candidates will be chosen by district party chairs.

Danielle Wallace of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.