NY-15 Candidates to Face Off in 'Rumble in the Bronx' Debate

Rep. Ritchie Torres opts out as challengers Michael Blake and Jose Vega prepare to make their case to voters.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:35pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fragmented shapes and lines in shades of blue, green, and orange, conveying the energy and dynamism of a heated political contest.The high-stakes race for New York's 15th Congressional District has drawn national attention, with challengers seeking to unseat the incumbent in a spirited political debate.NYC Today

On Tuesday, the advocacy group OneNYC Action will host a virtual debate for candidates in New York's 15th Congressional District, billing the event as 'A Rumble in the Bronx'. Confirmed participants include former Assembly member Michael Blake and political activist Jose Vega, while incumbent Rep. Ritchie Torres has opted not to participate.

Why it matters

The race for NY-15 is drawing national attention as several candidates attempt to run to Torres' left, with foreign policy emerging as a key issue despite the typically local focus of the district. The debate will give voters a chance to hear directly from the challengers on a range of policy topics.

The details

OneNYC Action, the group hosting the debate, is the advocacy arm of OneNYC, an independent expenditure committee that spent nearly $220,000 on ads supporting Mayor Zohran Mamdani's election last year. The organization describes itself as a nonpartisan coalition focused on economic growth and affordability. The debate will be moderated by public defender Dalourny Nemorin, who recently suspended her own campaign for the seat.

  • The debate will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2026 at 6 p.m.

The players

Michael Blake

Former Assembly member and one of the confirmed participants in the debate.

Jose Vega

Political activist and one of the confirmed participants in the debate.

Rep. Ritchie Torres

Incumbent Congressman for NY-15 who has opted not to participate in the debate.

Dalourny Nemorin

Public defender who will moderate the debate after suspending her own campaign for the seat.

Yasser Salem

Chairman of OneNYC Action, the group hosting the debate.

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What they’re saying

“What we've heard and what we've experienced is that there is interest in this race across New York City, across New York State, even interest across the country.”

— Yasser Salem, Chairman, OneNYC Action

“This race is sort of a litmus test to say: 'where do we stand as New Yorkers on these topics that are impacting us in a very specific and tangible manner?'”

— Yasser Salem, Chairman, OneNYC Action

What’s next

The debate will be live-streamed on Tuesday, April 6 at 6 p.m. and registration is available on the OneNYC Action website.

The takeaway

The NY-15 race has drawn national attention as challengers seek to run to the left of incumbent Rep. Ritchie Torres, with foreign policy emerging as a key issue. The upcoming debate will give voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates on a range of policy topics impacting the district and city.