In an election year that has made some incumbents nervous, Representative Ritchie Torres of New York appears to have avoided a competitive primary race.<\/p>\n
Mr. Torres, a three-term Democratic congressman from the Bronx, faced a challenge from Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman who struck an alliance with Zohran Mamdani in last year\u2019s mayoral primary.<\/p>\n
But Mr. Blake has failed to make a major splash in the congressional race.<\/p>\n
Mr. Blake had hoped to court voters who opposed Israel\u2019s war in Gaza<\/a>, and to highlight his relationship with Mr. Mamdani<\/a>. Yet Mr. Mamdani did not endorse him, and Mr. Torres raised much more money<\/a>. Mr. Torres held a large lead<\/a>, according to the limited polling available.<\/p>\n Mr. Torres, a former City Council member who represents one of the poorest congressional districts in America, has focused his campaign on his ties to the district<\/a> and efforts to address the high cost of living. He has mostly ignored Mr. Blake.<\/p>\n Another candidate, Jose Vega, who lost to Mr. Torres in 2024, is running in the Democratic primary and as an independent in the general election.<\/p>\n Mr. Blake and Mr. Vega appeared at a virtual debate<\/a> in April. Mr. Torres did not attend.<\/p>\n After supporting former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in the mayor\u2019s race, Mr. Torres appears to have mended fences with the mayor, though the two leaders disagree over Mr. Mamdani\u2019s criticism of Israel. Mr. Torres attended an event with Mr. Mamdani in May to promote broadband internet access<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mr. Torres has also defended Mr. Mamdani on social media<\/a>, responding to criticism of the mayor, who is Muslim, praying on Eid al-Adha.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing wrong with prayer,\u201d Mr. Torres said. \u201cIn fact, the free exercise of religion is American to the core.\u201d<\/p>\n