US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) speaks during a rally to mark 506 days in Hamas captivity at Naumburg Bandshell at Central Park on Feb. 23, 2025, in New York City. Photo: Ron Adar / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect

US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) is entering the 2026 Democratic primary season with a strong lead, according to a newly released poll that suggests voters in the Bronx-based district remain firmly behind the outspoken congressman despite mounting criticism from the party’s progressive flank over his support for Israel.

The survey, released by left-wing group A Fight Worth Having, shows Torres with a commanding lead over the field, holding 60 percent of the vote compared to insurgent challengers Michael Blake at 15 percent and Jose Vega at 7 percent.

The poll paints a picture of a Democratic electorate that continues to favor Torres’ brand of pragmatic politics and national visibility, even as several challengers attempt to frame him as out of step with parts of the party’s activist base.

Torres, who represents one of the nation’s most heavily Democratic congressional districts, has become one of the Democratic Party’s most forceful defenders of Israel following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, frequently clashing with anti-Israel activists and some members of the left wing of his party. That posture has made him a prominent national figure and a target for progressive organizers seeking to unseat him.

But the new polling suggests those attacks may not be resonating broadly with voters in New York’s 15th Congressional District, where Torres has built a reputation as an outspoken advocate on issues ranging from public housing and anti-poverty programs to public safety and antisemitism.

The district, centered in the Bronx and home to large Latino and Black populations, remains overwhelmingly Democratic and has historically rewarded incumbents with strong constituent ties. Torres won reelection comfortably in 2024, capturing more than 76 percent of the vote.

For Torres and his allies, the race underscores a wider debate within the Democratic Party over foreign policy, economic systems, and the role of activism in electoral politics. While the outcome of the primary remains uncertain, the contest highlights competing visions not just for a congressional seat but for the direction of the party itself.  The poll also underscores a growing divide inside Democratic politics between activist-driven online movements and more traditional urban Democratic constituencies. While Torres has faced sustained criticism on social media for his pro-Israel stance, the survey indicates many local voters continue to prioritize bread-and-butter concerns and view him as an effective representative for the district.

Political observers have increasingly described Torres as emblematic of a faction of Democrats attempting to push back against the party’s leftward drift on foreign policy and public safety. His allies argue that his political resilience demonstrates there remains substantial support within Democratic strongholds for candidates who combine progressive domestic priorities with hawkish views on Israel and antisemitism.

The race has attracted national attention in part because Torres has become one of the most visible pro-Israel Democrats in Congress at a time when divisions over the Middle East have intensified inside the party. Blake, a former Democratic National Committee vice chair, entered the race in part over disagreements with Torres’ positions on Israel, while other progressive challengers have also attempted to capitalize on the issue.

Since announcing his campaign to unseat Torres, Blake has lurched farther left on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an apparent attempt to court progressive voters. Blake has issued blistering statements condemning Israel of committing a so-called “genocide” in Gaza and vowed to vote against any military aid to the Jewish state.

“I am ready to fight for you and lower your cost of living while Ritchie fights for a Genocide. I will focus on Affordable Housing and Books as Ritchie will only focus on AIPAC and Bibi,” Blake posted on X in a statement last year announcing his candidacy, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a prominent lobbying group, and using the nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In May 2025, however, during his failed campaign for New York City mayor, Blake walked back his accusations of “genocide” against Israel, claiming that he regretted using the term to characterize the war in Gaza.

“It was wrong language to use,” Blake said, referencing his October 2023 post which accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. He apparently again reversed his stance when launching his congressional bid in New York’s 15th district.

Still, Torres enters the contest with major structural advantages, including a formidable fundraising operation. Federal filings show he has amassed a massive financial war chest that dwarfs his opponents, reinforcing perceptions that he remains the clear favorite in the race.