|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
NY Rep. Ritchie Torres is publicly backing Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor, even as the former NYS governor has yet to officially enter the race. The June Democratic primaries are drawing near, and with Mayor Eric Adams’ continued dwindling of support, Cuomo is assessing his chances for a comeback. The field of Democratic candidates who have already announced they will be running for mayor, is already crowded, but Torres feels there is room for one more.
“The two most important things we need are competence and courage,” said Torres, the 36-year-old Democrat who represents NY’s 15th congressional district, which includes the Bronx. “Andrew Cuomo has the competence to govern the city. He has the courage to stand up to extremist politics — both from the far left and far right. We don’t need a Mr. Nice Guy. We need a Mr. Tough Guy,” Torres told the Post.
As reported by the NY Post, Torres, who himself is looking to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 election, said that critics will be surprised at how much support Cuomo still has. He particularly noted support among his own mostly black and Latino working-class constituency in the Bronx. Torres said he is not interested in “relitigating” the sexual misconduct claims leveled against Cuomo by a slew of staffers and women, which led to the governor’s resignation in 2021. For his part, Cuomo has denied the allegations, but the congressman said he rather focus on Cuomo’s accomplishments and his potential in serving New York City. He noted past successes including renovations at LaGuardia Airport, the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station and the Javits Convention Center.
“I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo,” he said. “America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback.” Torres, who is openly gay, also noted that it was Cuomo who pushed through the law to legalize gay marriages in NYS in 2011, in his first term as governor. “[Cuomo] succeeded when others have failed,” Torres said.
Torres, by contrast, called Mayor Adams a “disappointment” and “ineffective”, adding that he made “questionable appointments.” Torres said that even if we put aside Adams’ legal woes, he hasn’t done anything to earn re-election. “The city is in crisis,” Torres said.
The Bronx representative has become known for ripping Gov. Kathy Hochul, whom he is hoping to face off against in next year’s Democratic primary. He apparently took a break to endorse Cuomo, though he made no comments regarding the other Democratic contenders running for mayor—a long list which includes NYC comptroller Brad Lander, former comptroller Scott Stringer, State Senators Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie, and NY Assemblymen Zohran Mamdani and Michael Blake.
Per the Post, Torres did briefly mention Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, noting his association with the Jewish-bashing Democratic Socialists of America, which he said makes him unfit to be NYC mayor. He noted how DSA members celebrated the “mass murder of Jews” at a rally following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel.
While Cuomo has still not officially thrown his hat into the mayoral race, he has been raking in a string of endorsements, which may be a clever way of rolling out his campaign.
