New York's 15th Congressional District challengers finally got their joint moment in the spotlight Monday night, but one key figure was missing. Rep. Ritchie Torres skipped a OneNYC Action virtual forum that put Michael Blake, José Vega and other hopefuls on screen to duke it out over housing, health care and jobs, leaving the field to spar without the incumbent present.
The debate, marketed as a "rumble in the Bronx," was live-streamed at 6 p.m. on April 6, 2026, according to amNewYork. Confirmed participants included former Assemblyman Michael Blake and perennial candidate José Vega, while Torres' staff told organizers the congressman would sit this one out. Organizers said they planned to push the candidates on immigration, health care, job creation and other day-to-day concerns for Bronx residents.
Who organized the forum
OneNYC Action, the advocacy arm of the OneNYC committee, has been pitching itself as a city-focused outfit that tries to pin candidates down on affordability and federal policy, according to OneNYC. In its public materials, the group highlights food affordability, housing and the way decisions made in Washington ripple through local services. Chair Yasser Salem has driven that message and helped turn OneNYC into a recurring player in local races.
Foreign policy became a dividing line
Torres' challengers have repeatedly gone after his support for Israel, and they used this forum to hoist foreign policy up alongside pocketbook issues. JTA and local outlets have chronicled that strategy in NY-15, and Michael Blake's campaign messaging has leaned into Torres' ties to pro-Israel groups, reporting by the Bronx Times found. That emphasis added a charged foreign policy layer to what had been promoted primarily as a forum on everyday services.
Torres' absence and OneNYC's role
By opting out, Torres allowed his opponents to trade shots without having to confront him directly, a shift that colored the tone of the night. The sponsor was hardly a neutral bystander. OneNYC Action ran ads last year and spent nearly $220,000, according to amNewYork. Salem told organizers that the race connects to federal choices on programs such as SNAP, Medicaid and Medicare, and he warned about a growing city budget shortfall. Those themes surfaced repeatedly in the moderators' questions.
Where the race goes next
The primary is still months away, with the Democratic primary for NY-15 scheduled for June 24, 2026, and nights like this are set to help voters weigh their options beyond the sitting congressman, local outlets note. Best in the Bronx has tracked the calendar and the crowded field. Whether Torres will join future forums is unclear, but his rivals are likely to keep using events like Monday's to sharpen their contrasts as the June date approaches.
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