On October 2, 2024, the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance hosted a candidate forum that featured an introduction by Captain Tawee Theanthong, the new captain of the 49th precinct. After a brief welcome, the spotlight turned to the congressional candidates, with New York’s 14th Congressional District candidate Tina Forte and 15th Congressional District candidate Gonzalo Duran taking center stage. Notably, the incumbents from both districts were absent, allowing their challengers to command the audience’s attention.
Tina Forte, making her second attempt to unseat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), was met with enthusiastic support from her passionate base. Forte roused the crowd with a fiery speech that emphasized her unwavering commitment to law enforcement, the military, an “America First” agenda, and former President Donald J. Trump. Her forceful rhetoric and strong conservative values resonated deeply with the audience, earning numerous cheers.
Forte went on to share her personal story, highlighting her experiences as a small business owner, a dedicated community member, and an adoptive parent. These experiences helped her connect with the crowd on a more personal level, adding depth to her political platform. In her closing remarks, she proudly declared herself an unapologetic, loud, and proud woman, clearly positioning herself as a fighter for her beliefs. After answering the eager crowd’s questions, Forte had to leave the forum early, citing another engagement in Queens, which covers a substantial portion of her district.
Gonzalo Duran, seizing the energy left by Forte’s speech, took a more measured approach. Duran, a veteran, community advocate, and vice chairman of the Bronx Conservative Party, began by outlining his background in detail, emphasizing his military service and extensive work within the Bronx community. His tone was steady but impactful as he presented his vision for the 15th Congressional District, which is fully encompassed within the Bronx.
Duran’s presentation focused on a series of missions and goals for the district, including improving veteran services, enhancing community outreach, and expanding civic engagement. While the audience largely responded positively, there was one critical question from a member of the crowd regarding Duran’s statements. In response, Duran calmly expanded on his positions, offering more thorough explanations, which seemed to win over skeptics, including one self-identified Democrat who openly stated, “Even though I am a Democrat, I’ll be voting for Duran.”
Although the Bronx has long been known as one of the strongest Democratic strongholds in the country, the event left many attendees favoring the Republican and Conservative candidates, with Forte and Duran both gaining momentum. However, the true test of their appeal will come on Election Day, November 5th.
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