A look inside a North Country primary feud

This post was originally published on Politico.

Republican Assemblymember Robert Smullen says he has been a close ally to Rep. Elise Stefanik who has represented NY-21 since 2015.

DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 43

PRIMARY COLORS: Republican Assemblymember Robert Smullen sat down with Rep. Elise Stefanik five years ago to talk about a rural development bill, but instead he made a bold claim: He intended to challenge her in a GOP primary.

The previously unreported meeting, according to two people with direct knowledge of the private conversation who were granted anonymity to discuss it, occurred in July 2021.

Smullen never followed through with a Stefanik primary challenge. And in a statement, he denied ever planning to challenge her for the nomination.

“I’ve never planned to primary Elise Stefanik,”