The Bronx Voter Guide 2020: U.S. House of Representatives
This year is the primary and general election for the U.S. House of Representatives and The Bronx is heavily contested. Politicians are swarming to The Bronx as a potential stepping stone to greater political aspirations, influence, and clout. We do not want our beloved borough to be a pawn used in political gain. We want to see representatives, leaders, and politicians who will work for the best for The Bronx and its communities.
We have compiled a Voter Guide to the U.S. House of Representatives Primary Election. The Voter Guide is not an endorsement of any candidate, but an encouragement to do your research, find a candidate who aligns with your positions, and vote in the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 23.
U.S. Congress: Quick Facts
The U.S. House of Representatives is the Lower House of the U.S. Congress with the Senate being the Upper House. Representatives are determined by Congressional Districts. Congressional Districts are determined by population and district boundaries will be redrawn after the 2020 census.
The Bronx has 4 congressional districts for the U.S. House of Representatives. District 13 is shared with Upper Manhattan. District 14 is shared with Queens. District 15 is the only district fully within The Bronx boundaries. District 16 is shared with Westchester.
District 13 Candidates
ADRIANO ESPAILLAT
Assumed Office: January 2017
Previously NYS Assemblyman (D-72) and NYS Senator (D-31)
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Healthcare: Medicare for All; single payer healthcare system
• Immigration: Co-sponsor of the Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act
SELECTED PREVIOUS VOTING HISTORY:
• VOTED AGAINST: Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws (No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003))
• VOTED AGAINST: Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally (Kate’s Law (HR 3004))
JAMES FELTON KEITH
Engineer, Economist, and Ethnographer. First Black member of the LGBTQ+ community to run for federal office.
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Housing: We should not have to earn the right to live
• Education: Democratically elected, non-governmental organizations should control the majority of land use and capital distribution
• Justice: legalizing cannabis in NYS
• Immigration: dismantling immmigration detention centers
RAMON RODRIGUEZ
Entrepreneur, Coach, and Trainer
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Healthcare: Universal healthcare for all
• Education: After school programming for children
• Housing: Affordable housing and protection from landlords
District 14 Candidates
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
Assumed Office: January 2019
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Healthcare: Medicare for All; safe and affordable prescription medications
• Education: cancel student debt, make public college tuition-free; enhance public schools
• Housing: housing as a human right; end unjust evictions; hold landlords accountable
SELECTED PREVIOUS VOTING HISTORY:
• VOTED AGAINST: Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, stimulus package and relief for COVID-19
MICHELLE CARUSO-CABRERA
Former lead reporter and anchor at CNBC. Caruso-Cabrera’s husband is a Republican super-PAC donor who has contributed over $400k since 1990, including over $130k since 2014.
We were unable to verify the candidate’s position on key issues, proposed legislation, and policy positions on the candidate’s official site or social media pages.
BADRUN KHAN
Financial Controller of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. (SoBRO)
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Healthcare: a public-option health plan and mental health funding
• Education: tax-free forgiveness on the maximum amount a student borrows and expansion of trade schools and vocational programs
• Gun reform: Supports background checks for gun purchases and assault weapon bans
• Justice: Supports marijuana legalization
District 15 Candidates
Current incumbent, Rep. Jose Serrano, elected in 2012, is not seeking re-election. Congressional District 15 has been identified as a battleground race in the 2020 election cycle.
For a detailed review of campaign finances, please visit the Federal Election Commission.
FRANGELL BASORA
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Health care as a human right
• End private prisons and the cash-bail system
• Fight the privatization of NYCHA public housing
MICHAEL BLAKE
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Decrease cost of college
• Negotiate fair drug prices with pharma companies
• Increase funding for HBCUs
• Raise federal minimum wage to $15/hour; protect small businesses and MWBEs
RUBEN DIAZ SR.
Candidate does not have a campaign website.
SAMELYS LOPEZ
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Housing as a human right
• Raise federal minimum wage to $15/hour
• Full federal funding for NYCHA
• Single payer federal gov’t healthcare fund
• Abolish ICE and pathway to citizenship
MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Medicare for all
• Universal rent control
• End cash-bail, close Rikers
• Living wage for teachers
• Cancel most of PRs debt
CHIVONA NEWSOME
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• End cash-bail system
• Universal Basic Income
• End ICE enforcement
• Holistic healthcare for all
• Eliminate permanent rent hikes caused by MCIs; fully fund NYCHA
• Legalize marijuana
JULIO PABON
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Overturn NY’s blindfold law
• Repeal the Jones Act in PR
• Ownership pathway for NYCHA residents
• End the cash-bail system
TOMAS RAMOS
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Increase mental health funding
• Pathway to citizenship and eliminate 3/10-yr ban
• Increase teacher pay; $1B into Title 1, 2 and 3 by 2026
• Cancel student loan debt
• Decentralize NYCHA; reform AMI guidelines; expand Sec. 8
YDANIS RODRIGUEZ
MARLENE TAPPER
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Medicare for All
• Reduce H1B visas
• Cancel student debt up to $30k
• Ban private prisons
RITCHIE TORRES
Candidate’s website links out to articles where candidate is quoted or referenced, but their official site does not list details or direction on key issues and their proposed policies and/or legislation.
District 16 Candidates
District 16 is also a highly contested district in the 2020 election. Rep. Eliot Engel has been in office for 30+ years and progressive Democrats are seeking his removal.
ELIOT ENGEL
Assumed Office: January 2013
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
• Co-sponsored legislation requiring background checks for gun purchases
• Co-sponsored the College Affordability Act
• Co-sponsored the Dream and Promise Act to provide a path to citizenship for new and current DREAMers
JAMAAL BOWMAN
Former middle school principal endorsed by AOC and Sanders
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Housing: national rent control, and rent to counsel in housing court
• Education: invest in schools and pay teachers a living wage
• Immigration: permanent protection from deportation and abolish ICE
• Healthcare: supports Medicare for all, reproductive right protection, expand maternal health, and eliminate healthcare fees
• Justice: legalize marijuana, repeal the 1994 Crime Bill, end cash bail
SAMMY RAVELO
US Navy veteran and retired NYPD Lieutenant
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Healthcare: incentivize states to expand Medicaid eligibility
• Education: free trade schools and public college tuition for qualified individuals, and ban for-profit charter schools
• Gun reform: background check, assault weapon ban, and prevent domestic abusers from purchasing a gun
CHRIS FINK
Tax attorney and municipal power expert
CAMPAIGN POSITION ON KEY ISSUES:
• Education: free junior college for all
• Immigration: pathway to citizenship for DREAMers
• Healthcare: expand the Affordable Care Act
• Justice: institute “three strike” rule for police officers with more than three complaints or investigations, and legalize marijuana
Why does the primary matter?
Typically, especially in predominately Democratic Districts, the primary election winner is the party nominee for the General Election in November.
What if my candidate doesn’t win the primary?
It’s OK. Representatives serve two year terms. They are elected officials, dependent on the votes of their constituents. If we, the community, do not see tangible change, they can be replaced and a proper candidate can assume their position. Two years is not that long.
Remember…
As elected officials, Representatives have to serve YOU. They work for their district, for The Bronx. Pay attention to who is running, what they do and do not do in office, and what they promised their district.
We can, and will, hold them accountable.
Sign up to follow the Road to the 2020 Elections
We will be releasing additional voter guides shortly and following all candidates to the November General Election.
