New York State
Ritchie Torres will not run for governor
Torres had flirted with a run against Gov. Kathy Hochul but decided against it after Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary.
Rep. Ritchie Torres speaks during the The Jerusalem Post New York conference on June 3, 2024. Noam Galai/Getty Images
Rep. Ritchie Torres said he is “unlikely to run for governor” as he intends to advocate for his Bronx district, given the unprecedented policies coming out of Congress and the Trump Administration.
Torres made the comments during an MSNBC appearance on Wednesday morning, and his absence from the race would leave a gap to the right of Gov. Kathy Hochul in what was expected to be a three-way Democratic primary that will also feature her rogue Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado running to Hochul’s left.
Torres had already hinted he would probably stay out of the race if Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last week’s Democratic primary for New York City. He’s since changed his tune on the reasoning behind the decision, but it would appear he’s true to his original word now that Mamdani has won.
Back in the 15th Congressional District, some are calling on former Assembly Member Michael Blake, who cross-endorsed Mamdani in the mayoral primary, to challenge him in a primary next year. Blake tweeted cryptically about Torres on Wednesday – “He's not running for Governor He won't endorse the Dem Nominee for Mayor” – but has not said whether he plans to run against Torres.
Torres’ plans, though, just got a whole lot clearer. “I feel like the assault that we’ve seen on the social safety net in the Bronx is so unprecedented,” Torres said on Morning Joe. “It’s so overwhelming that I’m going to keep my focus on Washington, D.C.”