Socialist Andre Easton announced his candidacy Wednesday to challenge Democratic Congressman Richie Torres in the 2026 midterm election.

In a campaign ad released on Instagram, the Bronx native vowed to represent the interests of “the ones moving the trains and buses that power New York City,” as well as those who “run the grocery stores, deliver the food, and keep the shops open.”

“Everywhere I look, I see people hard at work producing this country’s wealth,” he said. “So how is it possible I am standing in the nation’s poorest congressional district?”

Easton is a campaigning on a platform that will work towards ensuring no one pays more than 20 percent of their income on rent and will raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour. He also promised to support “fully funded public schools, an end to student homelessness, free childcare and guaranteed jobs for all.”

According to his campaign website, Easton has taught English in Bronx public schools for the last 12 years. The son of Jamaican immigrants, he was raised in the Bronx, where he still lives with his wife and three children. He became a political organizer with the Party For Socialism and Liberation in order to “help build the fighting capacity of the working class in New York City.”

As an elected representative, Easton promises to work to overturn capitalism, which he described as a “system where billionaires bribe our politicians to fund genocide in Gaza instead of what we know our people need.”

His opponent, incumbent Ritchie Torres, is a longtime supporter of Israel who has described himself as “the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive.” Prior to being elected to Congress, Torres served on the New York City Council representing the 15th District. Elected at age 25, Torres became New York City’s youngest public official and the first openly gay elected official in the Bronx.

Easton does not seek to challenge Torres in the Democratic primary. Instead, Easton plans to appear on the ballot in the general election. Socialists like Easton have been gaining ground in New York City. Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani appears poised to be the City’s next mayor. Other socialists, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have also managed to challenge established political machines through successful political campaigns.

Unlike Easton, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez found success running in the Democratic primary and appearing on the general election ballot as the Democratic Party candidate. Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez are also associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a different socialist organization than Easton’s Party For Socialism and Liberation (PSL). The DSA has evolved into a fundraising and organizing juggernaut during the last few elections.

See below for the full campaign video for Andre Easton. His campaign website can be found here.