Rep. Ritchie Torres ‘considering’ run for governor as he turns up heat on Hochul — and doesn’t rule out bid for NYC mayor
Surprise, surprise.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres confirmed he’s considering a run for New York governor Monday — while continuing an onslaught of attacks against fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Torres said in a spate of appearances that he’s launching a “listening tour” across the Empire State ahead of making a decision in mid-2025 on a potential gubernatorial run and Democratic primary against Hochul.
But the Bronx congressman — who has also blasted Eric Adams as “complicit” in the murders of three innocent people by alleged serial stabber Ramon Rivera last week — told The Post he’s also not ruling out a run for New York City mayor.
“I thought I would run for governor (rather) than mayor, but nothing is off the table,” he said at a rally opposing Hochul’s planned expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway.
“Failed governance” in both the city and the state — which Torres argued led to President-elect Donald Trump’s shocking gains during the 2024 election in deep-blue New York — showed the need for new leadership, he said.
Torres, however, largely focused on attacking Hochul, whom he repeatedly denigrated as the “new Joe Biden” — an unpopular leader leading New Yorkers and Democrats into ruin.
During the Bronx rally and a NY1 interview, he launched into a searing critique of Hochul’s leadership. He said New Yorkers feel the governor has failed them as they watch their quality of life, safety and affordability decline.
“We have a leadership crisis in America, and nowhere is a leadership crisis more profound than in New York City and in New York State under the failed governance of Kathy Hochul,” he told NY1.
“She’s well-intentioned but ineffective,” he said in the Bronx. “She’s been ineffective in her handling of congestion pricing, managing to outrage both supporters and opponents of congestion pricing. I have lost confidence and I blame the failed governance of New York State and New York City for Donald Trump’s progress in New York.
“There was no state that saw a greater swing to Donald Trump than New York.”
The prospect of Torres mounting a bid for governor has prompted panic among Hochul’s team, who sources have said fear the congressman could win over her base of moderate Democrats.
Torres has rankled many progressive Dems with his positions on public safety issues and unapologetically pro-Israel stance after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, even as other lefties harshly criticize the war’s toll on civilians killed in Gaza.
Democratic consultant Neal Kwatra said Torres will be a “formidable” candidate for any office.
“He is one of the smartest, most strategic and thoughtful members of the Democratic Party of his generation,” Kwatra told The Post Monday. “He does the work, he builds relationships. He has clarity of what government should be doing. He’s a workhorse, not a show horse. We need work horses, not show horses.”
Torres also reiterated his contention that both Adams’ and Hochul’ administration bore responsibility for “layers and layers of failure” leading to the early release of Rivera, despite his assault of a correction officer during his last jail stint.
“Not only did the state and the city fail to punish him for assaulting a corrections officer, but the city released him early for good behavior,” he said. “And the end result was three New Yorkers stabbed to death. So, if he had never been released early and had completed his full sentence those three New Yorkers who were murdered would be alive today. That’s the price New Yorkers pay when government fails.”
Adams brushed off Torres’ accusations and said City Hall will unveil a timeline of Rivera’s release showing the city Department of Correction and law enforcement “did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
The mayor said he’ll ask Torres to partner with him on efforts to deal with people with severe mental health issues.
“I like Richie,” Adams said Monday. “I think that Richie has a good common sense approach to governing as I do. We are aligned on many issues together in fighting hate in the city.
“Honestly, I think that he was expressing his concern. He sent a letter over to us and we’re going to respond to his letter. He’s going to see that we did our job.”
A representative from Hochul’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign didn’t return a request for comment.
Avi Small, the governor’s press secretary, passed the buck on Rivera’s release to the Big Apple.
“This case was a tragic failure of New York City’s correctional and judicial systems, as City officials have confirmed,” he said in a statement.
“Governor Hochul has prioritized public safety — including by changing laws to allow DAs and judges to hold repeat offenders accountable — and will continue investing in programs that successfully get people with mental illness off the streets and into treatment.”
