On the left, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., during an interview in New York, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. On the right, Zohran Mamdani and Michael Blake greet supporters on 161st Street on June 24, 2025, in the Bronx in New York City. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, a Torres spokesperson asserted that Blake would lose the primary.
"Michael Blake is not interested in the Bronx; he’s only interested in using it to run for office for the fifth time, and the result will be the same as before: another loss," Torres' communications director Benny Stanislawski declared in the statement.
"There’s a reason Bronx voters trust Ritchie Torres. He’s been their champion in Congress, laser-focused on issues like public housing and affordability while standing up to Donald Trump. That’s why he’s going to win again next year," the statement added.
In a post on X last year, Torres called himself a "pragmatic progressive."
Blake's campaign site describes him as a "consistent progressive."
Torres has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2021.
In a 2020 Democratic House primary, Blake was the runner-up behind Torres, who went on to win in the general election later that year.
NY DEMOCRAT CALLS OUT FAR-LEFT ‘ABSURDITIES’ FROM ‘COLLEGE-EDUCATED ELITES’ INFLUENCING PARTY
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., speaks on stage during The Hill & Valley Forum 2025 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center on April 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for 137 Ventures/Founders Fund/Jacob Helberg)
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Blake unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic New York City mayoral primary earlier this year.
Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pro-israel-house-dem-draws-leftist-primary-challenge