Peter Guidarelli, GOP political strategist and Jason Palmer, former Democratic Presidential candidate, on primary election results, June 26th, 2026

Peter Guidarelli, a GOP political strategist and former Schenectady County Legislative Chairman along with Jason Palmer, Founder of Together! and former Democratic Presidential candidate, join Tom Eschen to discuss Tuesday's primary election results

0:00 – Introduction and overviewNew York primary results; NY-21 setup and guest introductions

0:56 – Peter Guidarelli on Constantino vs. SmullenTrump endorsement, money, and outsider vs. insider framing

4:00 – Organization, county committees, and turnoutHow money plus Trump shaped the primary

7:03 – Positioning for the general in NY-21Constantino’s message, independents, DSA label on Democrats, partisan lean of the district

9:48 – Solar farms and upstate backlashClimate policy, farmland preservation, and risks for Democrats in the North Country

12:10 – “Man of the district” questionsConstantino’s business background, energy prices, and tying costs to Democratic climate policy

15:22 – Constantino’s demeanor and “reset”Tone in the primary, rap videos, why NY-21 may become a national race

17:41 – General election money dynamicsGOP strategy, Constantino’s spending, and Democratic identity crisis after DSA gains

23:54 – Younger voters and socialismAppeal of democratic socialism, GOP opportunity on environment, generational shifts in both parties

24:10 – Governor’s race: Hochul vs. BlakemanAffordability, climate policies, Trump alignment, and the Vote Affordable line

28:31 – Transition to Jason PalmerNational lens on NY primaries and DSA’s surge

28:44 – A “political earthquake” on the leftDSA wins, Mondami’s influence, party tensions among Democrats

30:31 – Person vs. label and DSA’s growthComparisons to Tea Party/MAGA and what Democrats should learn

32:22 – NY-21 from the Democratic sideModerates vs. “socialist” caricatures and messaging challenges

34:27 – Future of the Democratic PartyBig-tent vs. left insurgency and reclaiming working-class voters

35:37 – Together’s strategyYounger, centrist candidates in purple districts and a shrinking political center

36:36 – The Trump factorPrimary strength, general-election liability, and how endorsements shape both parties

39:13 – AI and politicsRegulation, backlash to data centers, and why Congress needs AI-literate members

40:23 – AI on the issue agenda & closeWhere AI ranks among voter concerns, and podcast subscribe CTA

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