Ritchie Torres Leaned Right. Will That Cost Him His Seat in Congress?

Five years ago, then-City Councilmember Ritchie Torres won a seat in Congress and was widely hailed as a progressive rising star, the first openly gay Afro-Latino member of Congress who rose from a childhood in public housing.

Now, the Bronx congressmember has gone from progressive darling to progressive target, largely over his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, not to mention his abandonment of several of his previous left-leaning positions, shifts that have alienated many former allies. 

And this time around, Torres is facing primary challengers taking aim at his outspoken support for Israel. Legal Aid society attorney Dalourny Nemorin, a member of Democratic Socialists for America, has launched a campaign emphasizing affordability and protections for immigrants. Yet the opponent with the most name recognition at the moment is former assemblymember and failed mayoral candidate Michael Blake, who finished second to Torres in the crowded 2020 primary—and who has undergone a transformation of his own ahead of the rematch, from Israel supporter and AIPAC ally to fierce critic.