Vance visit reported for Ogdensburg as Blakeman plans Watertown event

Vice President JD Vance is expected to campaign for Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino in the North Country on Monday, Nov. 2, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is scheduled to hold an event in Watertown the day before. The appearances come just before Election Day in a closely watched New York’s 21st Congressional District race.

Vance’s reported destination remains unclear. Reports have placed the event in Ogdensburg and Rome. The White House has not announced the visit, and a Constantino campaign spokesman declined to comment on the travel plans. The Secret Service surveyed Ogdensburg International Airport, and Vance is expected to land instead at the Fort Drum military base airfield, according to a report citing the Times Union.

Blakeman’s event is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Caprara Events Center on Faichney Drive in Watertown. It is free and open to Jefferson County voters.

The NY-21 race

Constantino, the CEO of Sticker Mule, is running against Democrat Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from Lisbon, to replace U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. Stefanik won her 2024 race by 24 points before deciding not to seek a seventh term. President Donald Trump won the district by 21 points in the 2024 presidential election and endorsed Constantino in April. Constantino defeated Assemblyman Robert Smullen in the Republican primary June 23.

A Siena Research Institute poll released Oct. 9 surveyed 496 likely NY-21 voters. It showed Gendebien with 46%, Constantino with 42%, Republican candidate Schmidt with 5% and 8% undecided. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 4.6 percentage points.

Early voting in St. Lawrence County increased 196% during the first two days compared with two years ago. Early voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, with voting locations including the Potsdam Central School Annex and the Dobisky Center in Ogdensburg. More than 60,000 North Country voters cast early ballots two years ago.

Election schedule

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters can check the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections for voting logistics and updates.

The possible Vance appearance would take place the day before polls open, but its event location has not been confirmed. Ogdensburg is in St. Lawrence County, while Watertown is in Jefferson County.