RT
Incumbent
Ritchie Torres
U.S. Representative for New York's 15th congressional district (2021–present)
Focus: Housing
Hakeem Jeffries +7
Primary Election
PRIMARY WAS JUN 23
U.S. House · New York - 15
PrimaryDemocratic Party
Open seat in NY-15 sparks competitive primary among three candidates
The 2026 Democratic primary for New York's 15th congressional district is an open-seat contest following the departure of the incumbent. Three candidates—Ritchie Torres, Jose Vega, and Michael Blake—are competing, with Torres holding a significant fundraising advantage. The race features a wide range of issues from classical education to foreign policy, reflecting the district's diverse priorities.
Candidates
MB
Michael Blake
Former New York State Assemblymember, District 79
Family Budget: Groceries, Child Care, Energy and Transit — Blake proposes lowering grocery bills through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, lowering energy bills via efficiency upgrades and investigating Con Edison price-gouging, making child care free for low-income families and more affordable for the middle class, protecting food benefits with secure EBT cards, and expanding fare-free transit for low-income New Yorkers.
Unite Here Local 100 +7
JV
Jose Vega
Self-described journalist
Medicare for All — Vega supports a universal single-payer national health insurance system, but argues the U.S. healthcare system must first be rebuilt by increasing hospital beds to meet Hill-Burton Act standards, reducing administrative costs, and increasing medical personnel.
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Issues
Classical Education
Vega advocates for reinstituting classical education, while Blake supports expanding My Brother's Keeper and My Sister's Keeper programs and canceling federal student debt.
Blake supports expanding My Brother's Keeper and My Sister's Keeper programs, canceling federal student debt, protecting and strengthening the Department of Education, and expanding evidence-based programs in mentoring, literacy, debate, and career pathways.
Michael Blake for Congress PlatformMedicare for All
Vega supports a universal single-payer system but argues the U.S. healthcare system must first be rebuilt, while Blake supports Medicare for All with no premiums or deductibles.
Vega supports a universal single-payer national health insurance system, but argues the U.S. healthcare system must first be rebuilt by increasing hospital beds to meet Hill-Burton Act standards, reducing administrative costs, and increasing medical personnel.
Campaign Policy Page - Real Medicare for AllImmigration Reform
Vega supports robust immigration reform with residency and temporary work visas, while Blake proposes an Immigrant Bill of Rights including prosecuting ICE and repealing the Laken Riley Act.
Blake proposes an Immigrant Bill of Rights that includes prosecuting ICE for crimes, repealing the Laken Riley Act, requiring real accountability in enforcement (enforcing anti-mask law against federal agents, requiring visible identification, establishing Safe Havens), guaranteeing due process and legal representation, protecting family unity, protecting workers with TPS, protecting privacy by banning local data sharing with ICE without a warrant, and guaranteeing access to safety and services regardless of immigration status.
Michael Blake for Congress - Repeal Laken Riley ActThe money
Cycle-to-date · FEC — figures change as new reports are filed.
RTTorres
$6.7M$15M cash
MBBlake
$412K$85K cash
JVVega
$265K$11K cash
Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.