U.S. House, New York 15th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 15th Congressional District?
Ritchie Torres has the strongest record in New York's 15th Congressional District. Ritchie Torres scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Ritchie Torres's highest marks are relevant experience and results. Gonzalo Duran (4 of 15 criteria), Andre Easton (5 of 15 criteria), Stylo Sapaskis (0 of 15 criteria) and Jose Vega (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Conservative
Gonzalo Duran
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Party for Socialism and Liberation
Andre Easton
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Stylo Sapaskis
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Ritchie Torres
62 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
Independent
Jose Vega
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Gonzalo Duran
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Andre Easton
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Stylo Sapaskis
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Ritchie Torres
- Mark against2025-08-22
His office acknowledged that disclosures of more than 70 stock purchases made by a third-party manager, mostly in September 2024, were filed months after the STOCK Act 45-day deadline.
Sources: NOTUS, Aug. 22, 2025, House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20030930
- On the record2026-04-06
His office confirmed he would not take part in an April 2026 OneNYC Action primary debate.
Source: Bronx Times, April 6, 2026
- On the record2025-01-07
Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act when Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025
- On the record2023-11-07
Voted Yea on the resolution censuring Rep. Rashida Tlaib when the three House Democratic leaders voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 622, 2023
- Credit2025
GovTrack lists six enacted bills he sponsored, including the Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2025 and the Helping More Families Save Act.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
Jose Vega
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed Sept. 16, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082885, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00919365
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. His office confirmed in August 2025 that disclosures of more than 70 stock purchases, mostly made in September 2024, were filed months past the STOCK Act deadline (E16). His 2025 annual disclosure was filed Aug. 13, 2026.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20030930, NOTUS, Aug. 22, 2025, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078169
Jose Vega. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00867234
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Voted against all three House Democratic leaders on the 2025 Laken Riley Act, the 2023 censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib and the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 622, 2023, House Clerk Roll Call 243, 2023
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. No public record found.
Jose Vega. Took part in an April 2026 OneNYC Action primary debate for the 15th District. No general election debate found.
Source: Bronx Times, April 6, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Served on the City Council from 2014 to 2020 and in the U.S. House since 2021. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: Wikipedia, Ritchie Torres, House Committee on Ethics site search for Torres
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Gonzalo Duran. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2011. No official finding of misconduct found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Gonzalo Duran
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Voted Nay on both Jan. 6, 2021 objections to certified electors. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
Jose Vega. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Gonzalo Duran. Marine veteran and founder of Devil Dog USA, which supports veterans returning to civilian life; vice chairman of the Bronx Conservative Party. Has not held elected office.
Sources: PoliticsNY, Feb. 10, 2026, Ballotpedia, Gonzalo Duran
Andre Easton. High school teacher in the South Bronx for 14 years. Has not held public office.
Source: Bronx Times
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. In the U.S. House since January 2021, seeking a fourth term; City Council member for the Bronx 15th District from 2014 to 2020.
Sources: GovTrack, Ritchie Torres, Wikipedia, Ritchie Torres
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Gonzalo Duran. Campaign site lists platform pages on veterans, health, safety, housing, education and other topics.
Source: Campaign site
Andre Easton. Publishes a detailed platform with specific federal measures, such as repealing the Faircloth Amendment to allow new public housing.
Source: Campaign site
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Sits on the Financial Services Committee (digital assets, housing and national security subcommittees) and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Jose Vega. Campaign site lists policy pages on Medicare for All, reindustrialization, immigration reform and foreign policy in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Gonzalo Duran. Answered Ballotpedia's survey in 2024 and 2025 (not 2026) and publishes platform pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Gonzalo Duran, Campaign site
Andre Easton. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes a platform.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andre Easton, Campaign site
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Offers a newsletter and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Ritchie Torres
Jose Vega. Took part in a 2026 primary debate, publishes policy pages and answered Ballotpedia's survey in 2024 (not 2026).
Sources: Bronx Times, April 6, 2026, Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Jose Vega
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Born and raised in the Bronx, represented a Bronx Council district from 2014 and the 15th District since 2021. FEC by-state totals show about 54 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ritchie Torres, Wikipedia, Ritchie Torres, FEC contribution totals by state
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00919365
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00699744
Jose Vega. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00867234
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Legislative Effectiveness Score 2.0 of 1.341 against a benchmark of 0.526 in the 118th Congress, exceeds expectations. GovTrack lists six enacted bills he sponsored, three in 2025.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Missed 81 of 2,915 roll call votes, 2.8 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Runs a Bronx district office on East Fordham Road (by phone, no walk-ins) and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.59103 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 240 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores 2023
Jose Vega. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Gonzalo Duran. No public record found.
Andre Easton. No public record found.
Stylo Sapaskis. No public record found.
Ritchie Torres. No public record found.
Jose Vega. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New York's 15th Congressional District?
Ritchie Torres has the strongest record in New York's 15th Congressional District. Ritchie Torres scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Ritchie Torres's highest marks are relevant experience and results. Gonzalo Duran (4 of 15 criteria), Andre Easton (5 of 15 criteria), Stylo Sapaskis (0 of 15 criteria) and Jose Vega (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 15th Congressional District in 2026?
Gonzalo Duran (Conservative), Andre Easton (Party for Socialism and Liberation), Stylo Sapaskis (Republican), Ritchie Torres (Democratic, incumbent), Jose Vega (Independent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Gonzalo Duran a good candidate for Congress?
Gonzalo Duran has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Andre Easton a good candidate for Congress?
Andre Easton has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Stylo Sapaskis a good candidate for Congress?
Stylo Sapaskis has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Ritchie Torres a good candidate for Congress?
Ritchie Torres scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jose Vega a good candidate for Congress?
Jose Vega has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.