BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

LISBON – On the heels of news that he will not face Elise Stefanik in his pursuit of the 21st Congressional District, Lisbon farmer Blake Gendebien is keeping focused on his message.

"This election has always been about the fact that life here in the North Country is just too expensive for my friends and neighbors. And Washington is too broken to fix the problems they've helped create," he said in a prepared statement.

"Regardless of who I'm running against, one simple fact is true, politicians can't solve our problems because they don't leave them every day. It's time to send a farmer to congress."

Gendebien has been running his campaign since December of 2024.

At the time he announced, Stefanik was expected to vacate her seat and serve as Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations.

Although that never came to fruition, for a time County Republican Chairs within the district were searching for candidates to run in her place.

Several Republicans stepped forward including St. Lawrence County businessman Josh Parker, State Sen. Daniel Stec, Amsterdam businessman Anthony Constantino, Assemblyman Robert Smullen, Schenectady County Republican Chairwoman Liz Joy and Assemblyman Christopher Tague, along with Rensselaer County Executive Steven McLaughlin.

However, it's unclear if any of those Republicans have set their sights on the seat now that they'll likely face a primary.

What is clear is that Stefanik is officially out.

Gendebien won't be the automatic Democratic candidate. He is facing a primary challenge  from Dylan Hewitt of Glens Falls.

It's likely Republicans will begin their announcements soon.

When he announced his campaign Gendebien said he brings something different to the table.

“I'm not a politician. I'm a farmer at heart who cares about my neighbors. I don't have pressure from Albany. I don't have pressure from D.C,” he said in his announcement.

He said he is disappointed in government gridlock and jockeying for power he's seen on both sides of the aisle.

"It resulted in a lot of inaction in the North Country," he said at the time.

Gendebien said when he sees a car off the road, he doesn’t ask what their political affiliation is, he hooks his chain up and pulls them out.

He plans to govern the same way. He said that if he’s elected to congress he’ll be representing all of the constituents regardless of their party membership.

See his full announcement here.