BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is set for an April 2 confirmation with the U.S. Senate to become the next ambassador to the United Nations, a move that will trigger a special election in the NY-21 district.

Congressional leaders had slow-walked Stefanie's confirmation as Republicans held a slim majority in the House of Representatives, requiring Stefanik's vote to advance a number of recent bills.

One such bill was the stopgap funding measure that was almost unanimously opposed by Democrats.

Despite being President Donald Trump's first nominee for his cabinet, Stefanik is now the last remaining nominee to be confirmed.

But with two Republicans set to fill the seats left vacant after Representatives Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz vacated them, members of the Senate can advance Stefanik's confirmation hearing.

Though the information was first reported by Axios and the New York Times, no specific schedule has yet been announced.

Who will fill Stefanik's seat will come down to a special election, which will be triggered when she is confirmed and resigns from Congress.

Under election law, a special election must be called by the governor in such circumstances.

Governor Kathy Hochul will be required to announce the schedule for the election within 10 days of Stefanik resigning, meaning the campaign would likely run into June or July before the election is held.

Who runs is determined by the 15 county party chairs, who have weighted votes.

Democratic Chairs of NY-21 are unanimously supporting Blake Gendebien as their special election candidate for the New York 21st Congressional District in February, which was met with controversy just hours later when a 2013 interview with TAUNY was brought to light.

In the interview, Gendebien discusses his farm and community, painting an unsavory picture of the area’s workforce, which Republicans have been quick to call out.

Gendebien says corrections officers "don't have much self-worth," and says Hispanic workers are better workers than local kids because they "don't have practical independence and an ability to think and the knowledge these guys do."

He also says that his Hispanic employees work 12-hour days 6.5 days per week and that it would take six local workers to replace just three of them. He says that he is not obligated to check their legal status and recounts a time when he paid $10,000 to bail out one of his employees who was apprehended by border agents.

Gendebien says that the local workforce is lacking and that those that are available come with baggage like domestic abuse issues and custody battles.

Among those criticizing Gendebien are State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox and Stefanik.

"Democrats didn’t do their homework when they selected Blake Gendebien and his catastrophic statements. Republicans will easily hold this seat in the upcoming special election, because the North Country is unquestionably Trump Country.”

Although there are many Republicans seeking support from the Republican Party Chairs, the front runners at this time appear to be Dan Stec, Liz Joy and Assemblyman Chris Tague.

It's unclear when the Republican Chairs will vote, but it’s expected to occur soon as Stefanik’s confirmation is complete.

“Thank you to NY State Conservative Party for naming me as their preferred pick to succeed my good friend Elise Stefanik as our next Representative in #NY21! I’m proud of my 100 percent Conservative rating and strong record as an advocate for common sense conservative reforms,” Stec said in a statement released on his social media account Monday.

“This support is greatly appreciated, but by no means is the candidate selection process over. In the days ahead I hope to earn the support of our excellent 15 GOP Chairs, Congresswoman Stefanik and President Donald J. Trump. Given the thin Republican Majority in the House, it’s imperative we retain this seat. I believe I am the candidate best suited to do that and I hope to make that case directly to our voters.”

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