Bronx, NY — Numerous PACs, one associated with cryptocurrency billionaires and another with Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ritchie Torres. Andre Easton, Bronx teacher, father, and socialist candidate running for New York's 15th Congressional District, issued the following statement on August 31st:

“Days before New York's Democratic primary, a crypto super PAC that bankrolled Trump and endorsed Lindsey Graham cut its first check ever to a Democrat. $300,000 went to Ritchie Torres. How can Torres claim to fight Trump when Trump's billionaires are paying for his campaign?

“From an article by Matt Sledge of The Intercept: ‘The Fellowship PAC dropped $300,000 on Monday to boost Torres in the final days of his reelection primary campaign, funneling its ad spend through a firm co-founded by Trump’s former top crypto adviser.’

“November 3, I'm on the ballot against Ritchie Torres in NY-15. No super PAC funds my campaign. 87% of my donors are New Yorkers, and the median donation to my campaign is $25. I'm funded by people like you, not billionaires. That's what gives me the independence to actually fight Trump's ultra-right agenda.

“Unlike Torres, I'm fighting for free, universal healthcare and childcare, so Bronx parents like me can afford to raise our families here. Families in the Bronx spend over 47% of our income on childcare—the highest share of any county. Torres has no solutions for our families.

“Unlike Torres, I'm fighting to stop sending billions of our tax dollars to Israel and to endless war in Iran. We must slash our bloated military budget by 90% and end all US aid to Israel. We need this money to fund our needs right here in the Bronx.

“Unlike Torres, I'm fighting to abolish ICE. ICE has $85 billion at its disposal to terrorize our immigrant neighbors. That money could go toward fully funding housing, education, and healthcare. I'm fighting for full rights for immigrant workers and families.

“We need people in Congress who will fight for us, not for the billionaires. People who will fight to put political and economic power in the hands of the working class. Support our campaign today: https://andreforthebronx.nyc/donate.”