Torres Nominated for U.S. House
Ritchie Torres Secures Democratic Nomination for U.S. House in New York's 15th District
Ritchie Torres has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in New York's 15th Congressional District, according to The Associated Press, which called the race shortly after polls closed at 9:09 PM ET on June 23, 2026. Torres, the incumbent representing the South Bronx, beat back a field of progressive challengers to secure his spot on the November ballot.
The win is largely seen as the real election. NY-15 carries a D+27 rating, making it one of the safest Democratic seats in the country, according to Cook Political Report. Torres raised $5,052,480 this cycle, dwarfing his closest challenger Michael Blake, who raised just $182,175, per FEC filings.
Torres Defeats Challengers Fueled by Anti-AIPAC Anger
Torres faced three main opponents: Michael Blake, a former State Assemblymember; Jose Vega, a left-wing activist; and Dalourny Nemorin, a public defender and DSA organizer. All three targeted Torres over his close ties to pro-Israel lobbying groups. Vega pointed to an estimated $2 million in support Torres received from pro-Israel lobbies, according to Uptown Voices.
Blake attacked Torres directly, saying: "The Bronx deserves better than Ritchie Torres... We have to focus on how people need us to help them with groceries as opposed to Ritchie helping to support a genocide," according to USA Today. Torres's camp dismissed Blake as a repeat opportunist, with spokesperson Benny Stanislawski saying Blake is "not interested in the Bronx; he's only interested in using it to run for office for the fifth time," per Spectrum News.
Torres Ran as Son of the Bronx, Not a Foreign Policy Warrior
Torres leaned hard into his personal story. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ Afro-Latino member of Congress. He grew up in public housing in the Bronx. On the trail, he said: "I'm Ritchie Torres and I'm the son of the Bronx... my experiences are the foundation of my public service," according to News 12 Westchester.
He focused on bread-and-butter issues: NYCHA public housing funding, the federal housing voucher program, and hospital funding. Analysts at Cook Political Report noted that despite heavy noise from the left, Torres's base stayed loyal because of his concrete local work, including efforts around the Cross Bronx Expressway and public hospitals.
Poll Showed a Blowout Long Before Election Night
The outcome was not a surprise. A May 2026 poll released by the group "A Fight Worth Having" showed Torres at 60%, Blake at 15%, and Vega at just 7%. Prediction markets on Lines.com gave Torres a 90.5% chance of winning the primary as of early May.
Torres also won his 2024 re-election with over 76% of the vote. That history, paired with his massive fundraising advantage and strong name recognition, made the 2026 primary a steep hill for any challenger, according to Ballotpedia.
A Blow to the DSA, a Path Forward to November
Torres's win is seen as a setback for the Democratic Socialists of America in New York City. It signals that a pro-Israel stance is not automatically fatal in a deep-blue urban district, as long as the incumbent delivers on local issues, according to City & State NY.
Torres now heads into the November general election as a heavy favorite. He is expected to push for expanded public housing investment and centrist immigration reforms. The left's "civil war" framing, as described by Uptown Voices, did not move enough voters to unseat him — at least not this cycle.
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