Rafael "Ralph" Salamanca Jr. (born July 2, 1980) is the Councilmember for the 17th district of the New York City Council.

The district includes portions of Concourse Village, East Tremont, Hunts Point, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Port Morris, and West Farms in The Bronx.

[1] His father worked the docks at the Hunts Point Market while his mother was an administrative worker in healthcare.

[4] Salamanca was a member of Bronx Community Board 2, where he would advocate for issues in the Hunts Point and Longwood neighborhoods.

Duran then switched to the Bronx County Conservative Party to challenge Salamanca in the general election in November.