Bronx Assembly Member Amanda Septimo is launching a run for Congress Septimo says she'll focus on reducing the cost of living, job creation, expanding access to affordable housing, improving community safety, and defending essential federal programs. Septimo will attempt to primary current Rep. Ritchie Torres, joining former Assembly Member Michael Blake, DSA organizer Dalourny Nemorin, public school teacher Andre Easton and Jose Vega, who ran against Torres as an independent candidate in 2024.