Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Michael A. Blake for US Congress NY-15
Candidate Name: Michael A. Blake
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-15
Campaign Website: https://www.michaelblakeforcongress.com/
Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I'm running to raise wages, reduce costs, and reimagine The Bronx. I'm a proud son of the South Bronx, the child of Jamaican immigrants, and the product of a working-class family. These experiences taught me the dignity of labor and the power of collective action. My father was a janitor and a member of 1199 SEIU his entire career, and my mother worked tirelessly to support our family. Their sacrifices and the union protections that helped sustain our household shaped my lifelong commitment to workers' rights, economic justice, and opportunity for immigrant families like mine.
I was educated in NYC public schools and graduated from Northwestern University. I have served at every level of government: in the Obama administration, three terms in the New York State Assembly, and as Vice Chair of the DNC.
In Albany, I made New York the first state to institutionalize My Brother's Keeper, securing nearly $40 million for Black and Brown boys and young men.
I helped pass Raise the Age legislation so teenagers are treated like teenagers, not adults.
I secured funding for BOOM Health's programs serving transgender youth in The Bronx, because no young person should have to choose between being themselves and being safe.
I also serve as an associate pastor in this district, because leadership without roots is just ambition.
NY-15 is the poorest congressional district in the richest city in America. Our people need a representative who shows up, who fights back, and who delivers. Housing costs are out of control. NYCHA has been neglected. Immigrant families are living in fear. The current representative has prioritized his national profile over this district. These policy failures fall especially hard on LGBTQ+ residents, who face extra challenges accessing housing, healthcare, and justice. The Bronx deserves delivery, not ideology. That is why I am running.
What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
In the New York State Assembly, I secured funding for BOOM Health's programs serving transgender youth in The Bronx, helping ensure that trans young people had opportunities to be safe and thrive. I also proudly supported the critical work of SAGE, fighting to ensure our LGBTQ+ elders receive the care, housing, and respect they deserve after a lifetime of paving the way for our civil rights.
I have worked closely with LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations throughout my career in public service, including through my work as Vice Chair of the DNC, where I helped ensure the party's platform reflected a genuine commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. I supported Justin Westbrook-Lowery in his local run in The
Bronx, Jason Rae for DNC Secretary, and Henry Munoz for DNC Treasurer. I have hired LGBTQ+ staff on my teams, consistently spoken out against discrimination targeting transgender people of color, and advocated for healthcare funding that directly serves LGBTQ+ communities.
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro- choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
I’ve been a regular participant at New York City Pride marches over the last decade. Too many protests, rallies, and vigils to count. Most recently, I hit the streets for No Kings Day 3, to protest the Trump administration's authoritarian overreach and demand accountability.
In the district, I recently organized a press conference outside the office of NY-15's current representative to oppose his support for the Laken Riley Act and the dangerous expansion of ICE enforcement in our communities. I joined NY Nurses at all four picket sites in The Bronx to demand safe staffing, coverage break care, workplace violence prevention, and health insurance protection. In Albany, I fought alongside advocates on the ground for expanded anti-discrimination protections.
In light of the Trump Administration's war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
Members of Congress have a responsibility to defend democracy by protecting fundamental rights, upholding the rule of law, and refusing to normalize or enable authoritarianism, hate, and bigoted attacks at home or abroad.
I will fight back on every front. I will use my congressional office as an organizing hub, connecting constituents with legal resources, know-your-rights trainings, and mutual aid networks.
I will introduce and cosponsor legislation to codify marriage equality and pass the Equality Act.
I will protect reproductive rights at the federal level through the Women's Health Protection Act.
I will fight to end the weaponization of ICE against our communities.
I will challenge executive orders that target gender-affirming care and oppose efforts to strip federal funding from city health clinics providing crucial sexual health and gender-affirming services.
I will invoke and enforce the Impoundment Control Act, include language in appropriations bills to prohibit illegal rescissions of awarded grants, conduct aggressive oversight, support legal challenges, and bring public attention to the illegal weaponization of federal funds. The Trump Administration is undermining Congress's authority through federal agency overreach, and I will fight these autocratic actions with every tool available.
Unlike the current incumbent, I will not pick and choose which communities deserve my voice. I will stand with every community under attack, every single time.
Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
No. I will not seek, accept, or platform any endorsement from individuals or organizations that oppose LGBTQ+ rights or reproductive rights. These are non-negotiable values, not bargaining chips.
Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes. I support the unrestricted right to reproductive care, including abortion, without exceptions, waiting periods, or government interference. Reproductive autonomy is a fundamental right. In Albany, I co- sponsored legislation to protect Roe v. Wade at the state level, and I will bring that same commitment to Congress. I will fight to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, codifying the right to reproductive care into federal law. I will also support federal legislation to protect healthcare providers from out-of-state litigation and prohibit federal agencies from cutting Medicare or Medicaid funding to hospitals that offer gender-affirming care. No person's access to care should depend on their zip code, income, or insurance status.
Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
Not yet, but I support them fully, welcome the opportunity to host one, and will champion events that affirm LGBTQ+ visibility and expression in The Bronx and across New York City. Drag Story Hours are a joyful celebration of creativity, inclusion, and community, and I will actively defend them against right-wing attacks.
Do you support right-wing attempts to ban the teaching of 'critical race theory'?
Absolutely not. These so-called bans are not about curriculum. They are about erasing history. They are about telling Black and brown children that their stories do not matter. As someone who was raised and educated in NYC public schools, I believe every student deserves honest, inclusive education. I oppose every attempt to ban the teaching of accurate history, and I will fight any federal effort to restrict what educators can teach. I strongly support the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require school districts to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. I also support the Counseling, Not Criminalization in Schools Act, which helps schools replace criminalization with care, address trauma, and keep kids learning and supported.
How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York's role as a Sanctuary City?
Coming from a family of immigrants, I know that ICE raids are not abstract policy debates. They are moments of real fear that threaten family unity, economic stability, and mental health across our neighborhoods.
In Congress, I will fight to abolish ICE and replace it with a humane immigration enforcement system. I will propose that Congress enact an Immigrant Bill of Rights to ensure all New Yorkers are safe. I will stand up to unlawful mass enforcement, require real judicial warrants, protect sensitive locations like schools, clinics, and places of worship, fund community legal services, and keep families together. Recent events, including the fatal shooting of U.S. citizens by ICE agents, highlight the severe human cost of unchecked enforcement. I will also support humane immigration reform centered on family unity and a clear, inclusive path to full citizenship for the 11-12 million undocumented people living in this country.
My opponent (and current representative) was the only member of the entire New York City congressional delegation to support The Laken Riley Act, which expanded ICE's authority and exposed immigrant communities in the South Bronx to arbitrary questioning and detention under the guise of public safety.
That vote directly undermined the safety and dignity of families in a district where so many are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Yes, unequivocally. As states across the country criminalize gender-affirming care and target trans youth and their families, New York must be a safe harbor. I support legislation making New York a Transgender Sanctuary State, protecting trans individuals and their healthcare providers from out-of-state legal attacks. I will also support federal legislation to shield providers from out-of-state litigation and prohibit federal agencies from cutting Medicare or Medicaid funding to institutions that offer gender-affirming care. In Albany, I secured funding for BOOM Health's programs serving transgender youth in The Bronx. Trans rights are human rights. There is no compromise on this.
If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Yes. The wealthiest New Yorkers and the largest corporations must pay their fair share. While families in The Bronx struggle with rising rents, crumbling infrastructure, and underfunded schools, billionaires and corporate giants receive tax breaks they do not need. I will support progressive tax reform, including:
Higher marginal rates on top earners
A financial transactions tax
Closing the carried interest loophole
Ensuring corporations cannot avoid taxes through offshore accounting.
Every dollar recovered should be invested in housing, healthcare, education, and public transit in the communities that need it most.
How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
I have never opposed a shelter in any community, and I never will. Homelessness is not a crime. It is a policy failure.
LGBTQ+ youth and seniors experience homelessness at disproportionate rates and are often excluded from housing programs that fail to account for discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In Congress, I will fight for increased federal investment in permanent supportive housing, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. I will push for expanded legal services for asylum seekers and oppose any effort to use homelessness or immigration status as a pretext for incarceration. I will also ensure that federal housing programs explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and that LGBTQ+ youth and seniors are prioritized in affordable housing production and NYCHA reforms.
Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes. I oppose the death penalty in all cases, without exception. It is a barbaric practice that disproportionately targets Black and brown people, is irreversible in cases of wrongful conviction, and does nothing to make our communities safer. I support abolishing the federal death penalty.
Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes. Solitary confinement is torture. The evidence is overwhelming that prolonged isolation causes severe psychological harm and violates basic human dignity. I support federal legislation to ban solitary confinement, consistent with the standards set by the Mandela Rules. No human being should be locked in a cell for 22 hours a day, regardless of what they have been charged with.
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes, on both counts. I commit to visiting incarcerated constituents. Incarcerated people are still members of our community, and they deserve to be heard by their elected representatives. I will actively advocate for the release of individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation, expressed sincere remorse, and pose no threat to public safety. As an Assemblymember, I helped pass Raise the Age legislation, which stopped
16- and 17-year-olds from being prosecuted as adults. Mass incarceration is one of the defining injustices of our time, and I will use every tool available to push for decarceration and restorative justice.
Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes. I commit to making clemency applications accessible to every constituent through my office, my website, and my newsletters. I will submit the information to the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club as requested. Access to clemency should never be limited by lack of information or legal resources.
Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
I did not rank Andrew Cuomo on my ballot. I supported Zohran Mamdani for mayor in both the primary and general election, and we formally co-endorsed each other. On November 23, 2025, I introduced Mayor- elect Mamdani to my church congregation, where we prayed together and stood alongside Bronx elected officials before the New York press corps.
Meanwhile, the current incumbent endorsed Andrew Cuomo. The voters chose Mamdani. They are ready to make the same choice in NY-15.
In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support renaming the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes. Ed Koch's deliberate inaction during the AIDS crisis contributed to the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers. His failure to act was not an oversight; it was a moral abdication. His record on civil rights and race is equally troubling. The Queensboro Bridge should not bear his name, and I support efforts to rename it in honor of someone who actually fought for the communities Koch abandoned.
Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes. Bella Abzug was a trailblazer who spent her life fighting for women's rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and progressive values. Naming the reconstructed bus terminal in her honor would be a fitting tribute to a woman who dedicated her career to the people of New York.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res. 719 'Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Kirk'? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have voted NO. While I condemn all acts of political violence without exception, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I could not in good conscience vote to honor the legacy of a man who called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a 'huge mistake,' disparaged Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and built an organization that actively worked against LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant communities, and racial justice.
Condemning violence and honoring a legacy are two distinct things. The current incumbent also voted NO on this resolution.
Do you support the immediate impeachment of Trump and other administration officials? If yes, which?
Yes. Donald Trump has committed impeachable offenses, including obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and violation of his oath of office. I support his immediate impeachment.
ICE agents must be held accountable for unlawful mass enforcement, community violence, and the fatal shooting of U.S. citizens. I support impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his pivotal role in Trump's illegal war in Iran. And while Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi no longer hold public office, I would have supported their impeachment for weaponizing the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security against marginalized communities. I support impeachment proceedings against any administration official who has participated in the corruption and weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents, the abuse of executive authority to circumvent congressional appropriations, and the systematic dismantling of civil rights protections.
When Democrats regain power, do you favor Justice Department prosecutions to hold Trump's administration officials accountable for criminal offenses?
Yes. No one is above the law. When Democrats regain power, the Justice Department must pursue prosecutions against any Trump administration official who committed criminal offenses. Accountability is not optional. Without it, we invite the next authoritarian to go even further.
Would you vote to defund ICE?
Yes. ICE has become a tool of cruelty and political intimidation, tearing apart families and terrorizing immigrant communities. ICE must be abolished. I have consistently opposed ICE, recently organizing a press conference outside the office of NY-15's current representative to object to his support for the Laken Riley Act. He was the only member of the entire New York City congressional delegation to support that bill. I support defunding and abolishing ICE and replacing it with a humane system centered on family unity, legal services, case management, and community-based supports.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have voted NO. The censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib was a politically motivated attack on the only Palestinian American member of Congress for exercising her right to speak on behalf of her community. Disagreement is not grounds for censure. Congress should be a place where members can advocate for peace, call for a ceasefire, and defend human rights without being formally punished for it.
The current incumbent, Ritchie Torres, was one of only 22 Democrats to vote YES on this censure resolution, joining with Republicans to silence a colleague who was calling for an end to the killing of civilians. The voters of NY-15 deserve a representative who stands with justice, not with political opportunism.
If an incumbent, how have you voted on allowing NSA to conduct warrantless searches? If not an incumbent, how would you vote?
I would vote NO. The Fourth Amendment exists for a reason. Mass surveillance without judicial oversight is a violation of civil liberties and disproportionately harms communities of color, activists, and marginalized groups. I support comprehensive reform of our surveillance laws, including requiring warrants for all domestic searches and strengthening oversight of intelligence agencies.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res 58 'Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism'? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have voted NO. This resolution was a cynical political stunt designed to vilify progressive economic policies and intimidate members of Congress who support programs like Medicare for All, public housing, and a living wage. I reject the premise of the resolution entirely.
If an incumbent, how did you vote on a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress?
I would have voted YES. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the power to declare war and authorize military force. The deployment of American troops to foreign nations without congressional authorization is a violation of that constitutional responsibility. I support restoring congressional oversight of military operations and bringing our troops home from unauthorized engagements.
Do you support allowing DC to fund its own government, including the criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress?
Yes. Washington, D.C. residents pay federal taxes, serve in our military, and contribute to our nation. They deserve the right to govern themselves without interference from a Congress in which they have no voting representation. DC statehood is a racial justice issue, a democracy issue, and a human rights issue. I support full self-governance for the District of Columbia.
What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
Housing is the defining crisis of our district. In NY-15, families are crushed between rising rents and deteriorating public housing. My plan includes:
Eliminating credit score requirements for affordable housing and first-time homeownership programs to remove discriminatory barriers.
Pushing HUD and local partners to anchor affordability to neighborhood-level incomes so units are priced to what NY-15 residents actually earn.
Increasing income limits for housing assistance.
In Congress, I will fight for a massive reinvestment in NYCHA and public housing nationwide, repeal of the Faircloth Amendment so we can build new public housing units for the first time in decades, a federal tenant bill of rights with just-cause eviction protections, expanded funding for the National Housing Trust Fund and HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and measures to freeze rent for rent-stabilized tenants and eliminate discriminatory credit checks in federal housing programs. I also support community land
trusts and cooperative housing models that keep housing permanently affordable. These protections are especially critical for LGBTQ+ youth and seniors, who experience homelessness at disproportionate rates.
Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes. I refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry. My campaign is funded by working people, not corporate interests.
This is one of the starkest contrasts in this race. The current incumbent has accepted significant funding from AIPAC and its affiliated PACs, corporate real estate interests, and other special interest groups. He has also held stock in defense companies that stand to gain financially during moments of conflict and war. When your funding comes from corporate PACs and your portfolio profits from war, your votes follow. That is exactly what has happened in NY-15. I believe a representative funded by the people will fight for the people.
Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults?
Yes. Criminalization of consensual sex work between adults does not make anyone safer. It drives sex workers underground, makes them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation, and wastes law enforcement resources that could be directed toward actual trafficking and abuse. I support full decriminalization of consensual adult sex work.
What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I want the members of Jim Owles to know that this race is about the soul of The Bronx and the integrity of progressive politics in New York City.
The current incumbent once called Jim Owles his home political club. He earned your endorsement in 2020 and 2022. Since then, he has accepted millions from AIPAC and its affiliated PACs. He voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, joining with Republicans to silence a colleague calling for peace. He was the only member of the entire New York City congressional delegation to support the Laken Riley Act, expanding ICE's authority in our communities. He has held stock in defense companies that profit from the very conflicts his votes support. He endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor while progressive Bronx voters chose Zohran Mamdani.
I endorsed Mamdani. We cross-endorsed each other. On November 23, I introduced the Mayor-elect to my church congregation, where we prayed together and stood with Bronx community leaders. That is the kind of politics I represent: rooted, accountable, and aligned with the people. I will never trade my values for a check. I will never let corporate money or defense contractor profits dictate my votes.
In Albany, I made New York the first state to institutionalize My Brother's Keeper. In Congress, I am committed to passing the Equality Act to provide comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across housing, employment, credit, education, and public services. I will also champion the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act to strengthen protections against discrimination and harassment for all workers, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
I am deeply grateful for Allen Roskoff's friendship through the years. Jim Owles has endorsed me in the past, and I have been proud to sponsor your events. I have spent my career fighting for the people who are most often left behind. The Bronx does not need a congressman with a national media profile. The Bronx needs a congressman who delivers. I humbly ask for your support.
If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes, absolutely. I would be honored to carry the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club endorsement on all appropriate campaign literature, digital materials, and public communications.