Rep. Ritchie Torres won the Democratic primary in New York’s 15th Congressional District on June 23, 2026, defeating a progressive challenger and securing his path to reelection in the heavily Democratic Bronx district. Torres, who has increasingly found himself at odds with the progressive wing of his party over his vocal support for Israel, fended off the challenge with substantial fundraising advantages and strong support from his district.
Former state assemblyman Michael Blake mounted the primary challenge against Torres, seeking to capitalize on the congressman’s controversial stance on Israel and his distance from progressive Democratic priorities. However, Blake failed to gain the traction of other progressive insurgents who successfully challenged incumbents in New York’s 2024 primary elections.
Torres significantly outraised his opponent, bringing in nearly $6.7 million compared to Blake’s approximately $412,000, according to The Hill. The fundraising gap underscored Torres’ strong support among donors and his political strength in the district.
Torres and Blake had previously faced each other in the 2020 Democratic primary, when Torres was first elected to Congress. That history added a competitive dimension to this year’s rematch, though the outcome proved even more decisive in Torres’ favor.
Torres has become one of the most vocally pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, a position that has created rifts with other party members and drawn challenges from the left. In February 2024, he formally broke with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the largest and most influential progressive bloc in the House, citing disagreements over how the caucus handled the Israel-Hamas conflict. That split marked a significant moment in Torres’ political evolution, as he had initially run for Congress in 2020 as a progressive candidate.
One notable aspect of this primary was New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s absence from the race. Mamdani, who has aggressively backed progressive challengers in other New York House primaries, did not throw his political weight behind Blake. The Hill reported that Torres’ district was one of the few New York City areas Mamdani did not carry in the Democratic mayoral primary held the previous summer, suggesting the mayor’s support might not have significantly altered the outcome.
With his primary victory, Torres has all but secured reelection to Congress in November 2026, as the Cook Political Report rates New York’s 15th District as Solidly Democratic. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Sources
- The Hill — Torres’ primary victory, his fundraising advantage over Blake, the 2020 primary history, his pro-Israel stance, his break from the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Mayor Mamdani’s non-involvement in the race.
- NBC News — Confirmation of Torres’ primary win and live election results.
- The New York Times — Primary results and live election coverage.
- Times of Israel — Torres’ primary victory described as a win for pro-Israel Democrats.
