PLATTSBURGH — If the 2016 election for the 21st Congressional District were to be decided by the number of candidate endorsements, Elise Stefanik would be in a good position to win re-election.

But endorsements can mean a lot or not much at all, according to one expert.

“To some degree, all endorsements are a mixed bag,” said Harvey Schantz, a political science professor at SUNY Plattsburgh.

“Some voters are receptive to the endorser, some are indifferent, and some voters will dislike the endorser, serving as a negative cue for the candidate being endorsed.”

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Official support

Stefanik, the incumbent Republican from Willsboro in Essex County, claims to have racked up 596 endorsements from elected officials in the 12-county district, five state senators and five members of the state Assembly.

Democratic candidate Mike Derrick, who lives in Peru in Clinton County, touts endorsements from 16 labor and advocacy organizations, the Democratic Party committees from all 12 counties and from U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats.

He also has support from former Congressman Bill Owens of Plattsburgh and Congressman Paul Tonko of the 20th District in the Albany area.

Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello of Glens Falls in Warren County boasts an endorsement from the State Employees International Union Local 200.

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Bipartisan backing

Stefanik, 32, claims endorsements from 43 elected officials from Clinton County, 54 from Essex County and 31 from Franklin County.

However, three local government officials who were on Stefanik’s list of 84 endorsees in St. Lawrence County have said they do not endorse her, according to North Country Now. These include the Potsdam town supervisor, a Norwood village trustee and the Potsdam town clerk.

She also has endorsements from 21 organizations, including the National Rifle Association and the New York State United Teachers union.

Her spokesman, Lenny Alcivar, said the congresswoman has earned them.

“This overwhelming number of endorsements from Republican, Democratic and Independent officials across the North Country reflects Elise Stefanik’s strong, bipartisan record of collaborating with grassroots leaders to deliver real results for the 21st District,” Alcivar said.

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Focus on families

Derrick, 53, has also received an endorsement from two newspapers: the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, based in Saranac Lake, and the Lake George Mirror.

He said he has focused on solutions that will lift up North Country families across the district and was pleased with his endorsements.

“I am honored to have the support of so many strong New York leaders and champions for middle-class families,” he said.

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Shows status quo

Funiciello, who has far fewer endorsements, was cynical about the number that Stefanik and Derrick have.

“If one is looking to see which candidate (or candidates, as is the case here) who will best represent the status quo, one need look no further than to see which organizations are taking sides in our election process,” Funiciello said.

“My two fellow candidates are both running on national platforms that can only be described as anti-worker, and yet they both have union endorsements.

“They are both resolved to do nothing about climate change, and yet they both have endorsements from environmental groups.”

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Switch in support

Funiciello said the SEIU endorsement was significant because it has historically backed either Democrats or Republicans, which he calls corporate-owned parties.

“They decided to support a working man,” he said of the union.

A bakery owner, Funiciello said he has also been endorsed by former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who gave him a $100 personal check.

“He has dubbed me ‘Democracy’s Baker,'” Funiciello said.

“If we wish to end corporate governance, we need only vote for those who do not take corporate money. That’s me. No rhetoric. No corporate money. Just principle.”

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Like-minded

Schantz said figuring out endorsements is not overly complicated.

“Endorsements from party leaders and elected officials are intended to reinforce the importance of party affiliation, which is a major motivation for voters on Election Day,” he said.

“Party endorsement reminds party adherents that the party is a coalition of like-minded supporters, united in opposition to the other party.”

Schantz said endorsements from labor unions are intended to reinforce union loyalties and motivate their members to turn out and support the union recommendation.

Business associations endorse congressional candidates who support a business-friendly economy, he said.

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Future access

Endorsements serve the needs of the endorsers as well, Schantz said.

“Endorsement affords interest groups of all kinds a low-cost opportunity to reward their supporters in government and build up access to these officials in the future,” he said.

“Politicians and other notables enjoy a day’s press coverage and gain an IOU from the candidate.”

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Score key votes

Schantz said individuals and groups that endorse want their money’s worth.

Many major national interest groups keep scorecards on all members of the U.S. House and Senate, in which they calculate the percentage of the time the legislators support their position on 10 to 20 key votes the organization has singled out for attention, he explained.

Generally, Schantz said, to receive an endorsement from a national lobby, a member of Congress has to have had supported the group on most of the year’s key votes.

The fact that Stefanik, the incumbent, has more endorsements is not surprising, Schantz said.

“Endorsements usually, but not always, follow the dictates of party and incumbency. Business interests are more likely to endorse Republicans, and labor interests are more likely to endorse Democratic candidates.”

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Means of support

Schantz said endorsements are usually followed with other support.

“In order for an endorsement to be effective, targeted voters have to be open to the individual or group doing the endorsing,” he said.

“Interest-group endorsements gain effectiveness when they are backed up by campaign contributions, direct advertising or voter mobilization.”

While it may be difficult to tell just how many votes a particular endorsement is worth or not worth, the support is good to have, Schantz says.

“On balance, endorsements are a positive. Not so much because they agree with the policy positions of the candidate, I would say, but rather because they vouch for the credibility and effectiveness of the candidate.”

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(Editor’s note: Four daily newspapers in the North Country — the Enterprise, Post-Star of Glens Falls, Watertown Daily Times and Press-Republican of Plattsburgh — are sharing content to better cover New York’s 21st Congressional District.)