The 15 Democratic Chairs in New York's 21st Congressional District have selected longtime North Country resident Blake Gendebien as their nominee, should a special election be called. This decision comes in anticipation of Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's expected departure from her seat to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations under the Trump administration.

The group of 15 representatives from NY-21’s 15 counties unanimously chose Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

ALBANY — Democratic leaders have selected dairy farmer Blake Gendebien to run in the special election for New York’s 21st Congressional seat — although when that election will take place is increasingly unclear.

The race to replace North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik hasn’t officially started yet, but the 15 Democratic Party chairs who will select the candidate to run on their party line in the impending NY-21 special election have unanimously thrown their support behind Blake Gendebien,

"I’m honored and deeply grateful to each of the 15 Democratic chairs. They have run a thoughtful process that has brought out the best in each of us at a particularly challenging time," said Democratic Candidate Blake Gendebien in a statement.