Blake Gendebien

Blake Gendebien earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1999. His career experience includes working as a farmer and small business owner.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a husband, father of three boys, second-generation dairy farmer, small business owner, and served as Vice Chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark. I was born and raised on a farm in the North Country and I’ve been deeply rooted in this community my whole life – as a JV basketball coach, Lisbon Central School Board Member, and founder of a non-profit supporting kids with pediatric cancer and their families.

Not enough of the people who are supposed to be representing us in Washington know what it means to put in a real day’s work. Out-of-touch politicians on both sides of the aisle spend too much time fighting with each other and jockeying for power. But on the farm, when you’re making small square bales of hay, milking cows, or shoveling stalls, you don’t ask the person next to you which party they belong to, you just get to work.

Having grown up here, I’ve seen how Washington has neglected communities in the North Country. Over the last six years alone, our region has lost more than 700 local dairy farms, and families have been forced to leave for higher-paying jobs elsewhere – but it doesn’t have to be this way.

My goal is to be a bridge between our region and Washington. I’ll be an honest voice to uplift farmers, families, veterans, and small businesses while keeping bureaucracy in check. There is no excuse for the gridlock that has failed to deliver even the most common-sense solutions to help North Country families to not just get by – but to actually get ahead.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability

Too many working families in our district are struggling to keep up with rising costs. Instead of making life more affordable, politicians in Washington are busy playing political games and catering to special interest groups. With nearly half of our community over 65 and living on fixed incomes, we need real solutions to bring prices down and make everyday essentials affordable.

As a farmer and small business owner, I know how to keep costs down at the dinner table. It starts with repealing costly and unnecessary government regulations, supporting fair trade deals, and bringing back American manufacturing. I’m committed to fighting for policies that lower costs, protect seniors, and put working families first.Healthcare

Access to quality healthcare is essential in rural communities. That’s why I will never vote to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

We must expand access by growing tele-health services and investing in transportation options to connect patients with the care they need. We need to lower prescription drug costs to make healthcare more affordable for families and seniors, prioritize proper nutrition to support children’s health and development, and make it easier and more affordable for healthcare workers to stay in our community to meet local needs. We also must protect a woman’s right to choose and oppose new regulations that put in place total abortion bans even in cases of rape or when the life of the woman is at stake.Government Reform

It’s obvious that the politics in Washington are broken. Money is at the root of the problem – too many politicians see elected office as a means to personal financial gain and special interest groups are more than happy to buy their votes. Our country, and NY-21, need representatives that are in D.C. to work hard for the people that elected them, not enrich themselves.

I’m committed to cleaning up Washington and I will always be responsive to the voters of the North Country, not special interests. We need to end the “elected to lobbyist” pipeline and get dark money out of politics. I will be a champion for fairness, accountability, and transparency. The system is not serving the North Country - we need change.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Agriculture and Small Business

Farms and small businesses are the backbone of our rural economy, and we need policies that help them not just survive, but thrive. As a farmer and small business owner myself, I know firsthand that we can do more to support farms and Main Street businesses.

Immigration

New York’s 21st district is a border district, and for too long politicians on both sides of the aisle have failed to deliver real immigration reform. Instead of fixing the problem, they use it as a political wedge to divide us. It’s time for serious, bipartisan solutions that actually work for our communities.

Supporting our Veterans

We must expand access to VA services and community centers so veterans can easily get the help they need.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Rep. John Mannion

Rep. Joe Morelle

IBEW Local 910

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen