Overview
- Michael Blake launched a Democratic primary bid to unseat Rep. Ritchie Torres in New York’s 15th Congressional District.
- Blake frames his campaign around affordability and housing, proposing steps such as ending credit scores for housing and accusing Torres of supporting policies he calls genocidal.
- He charges that Torres prioritizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Bronx constituents, making Israel policy a defining fault line in the race.
- Torres’ campaign, through spokesperson Benny Stanislawski, dismissed Blake as a perennial candidate and highlighted Torres’ record on public housing, affordability, and standing up to Trump.
- Blake declined to commit to supporting Hakeem Jeffries for speaker, while Torres, who has called himself an “unapologetic Zionist,” has also urged easing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.