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By: Nick Carraway
During a fiery speech Monday at a Citizens Budget Commission breakfast in Manhattan, Rep. Ritchie Torres took aim at what he called New York’s “misgovernance,” leading political insiders to speculate he may be considering a gubernatorial run.
His remarks, reported by the New York Post, highlighted his frustration with the state’s regulations and policies, which he argued are stifling businesses and progress.
Once again, Ritchie Torres is an insightful voice of reason! Thank you, @RitchieTorres
"New York Democrat rips 'far left' for Trump victory: 'Ivory-towered nonsense'"https://t.co/OSxaE1vdZc
— Lion Cub (@elf212) November 7, 2024
“There are regulations in place that make it impossible to do business and to build,” Torres said at Club 101 in Manhattan. He linked voter dissatisfaction with state and city governance to increased support for President-elect Donald Trump, who won surprising gains in traditionally blue New York during the Nov. 5 election.
The Post reported that Torres’ sharp critique left political insiders buzzing. “Ritchie is looking to run for governor,” one of his associates claimed. Torres himself did not confirm such aspirations but made clear his discontent with New York’s direction.
Alongside Rep. Dan Goldman, Torres criticized the Democratic Party’s “extreme left,” blaming its policies—such as the 2020 push to “defund the police”—for alienating working-class voters, particularly Black and Latino men. Both lawmakers stressed the need for Democrats to focus on practical, economic issues rather than ideological battles.
“Donald Trump built the coalition that socialists dream of—uniting the white working class in rural America with the Black and brown working class in urban America,” Torres said, responding to a constituent’s question about Trump’s growing appeal in his district. He noted that Trump capitalized on disillusionment with progressive policies and the perception of incompetence in addressing key issues, such as crime and the migrant crisis.
Torres did not spare President Biden either, calling his response to the migrant crisis “incompetent” and blaming it for further eroding voter trust in Democrats.
Goldman echoed Torres’ frustrations, attributing New York’s stagnation to “extreme politics and ideological litmus tests.” He pointed out that even a project he supported—a windmill power initiative—took seven years to launch due to red tape. “There are too many barriers. That’s unacceptable,” he said.
Torres also highlighted New York’s energy shortfall as a major obstacle to progress, particularly in the expansion of artificial intelligence technology, which requires large-scale data centers. “New York has a shortage of energy,” he said, urging a rethink of state and local governance.
These comments fueled speculation about a potential primary challenge against Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is up for re-election in 2026. Torres’ criticisms seem aimed at positioning himself as a reformer capable of cutting through bureaucracy and addressing voters’ bread-and-butter concerns.
A representative for Hochul defended her record, highlighting statewide reductions in crime and housing reforms as evidence of her leadership. “Governor Hochul is focused on delivering results for New Yorkers: driving down crime and lowering costs for working families,” campaign spokeswoman Jen Goodman told the Post.
With New York’s political landscape shifting and voter priorities changing, Torres’ sharp critique and forward-looking rhetoric have stirred conversations about his potential future in statewide leadership.
