Shock, shock.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres confirmed he’s contemplating a run for New York governor Monday — whereas persevering with an onslaught of assaults in opposition to fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Torres mentioned in a spate of appearances that he’s launching a “listening tour” throughout the Empire State forward of constructing a call in mid-2025 on a possible gubernatorial run and Democratic major in opposition to Hochul.
However the Bronx congressman — who has additionally blasted Eric Adams as “complicit” within the murders of three harmless individuals by alleged serial stabber Ramon Rivera final week — advised The Publish he’s additionally not ruling out a run for New York Metropolis mayor.
“I believed I might run for governor (relatively) than mayor, however nothing is off the desk,” he mentioned at a rally opposing Hochul’s deliberate growth of the Cross Bronx Expressway.
“Failed governance” in each town and the state — which Torres argued led to President-elect Donald Trump’s stunning positive aspects through the 2024 election in deep-blue New York — confirmed the necessity for brand new management, he mentioned.
Torres, nevertheless, largely targeted on attacking Hochul, whom he repeatedly denigrated because the “new Joe Biden” — an unpopular chief main New Yorkers and Democrats into damage.
In the course of the Bronx rally and a NY1 interview, he launched right into a searing critique of Hochul’s management. He mentioned New Yorkers really feel the governor has failed them as they watch their high quality of life, security and affordability decline.
“We have now a management disaster in America, and nowhere is a management disaster extra profound than in New York Metropolis and in New York State underneath the failed governance of Kathy Hochul,” he advised NY1.
“She’s well-intentioned however ineffective,” he mentioned within the Bronx. “She’s been ineffective in her dealing with of congestion pricing, managing to outrage each supporters and opponents of congestion pricing. I’ve misplaced confidence and I blame the failed governance of New York State and New York Metropolis for Donald Trump’s progress in New York.
“There was no state that noticed a better swing to Donald Trump than New York.”
The prospect of Torres mounting a bid for governor has prompted panic amongst Hochul’s workforce, who sources have mentioned worry the congressman might win over her base of average Democrats.
Torres has rankled many progressive Dems together with his positions on public questions of safety and unapologetically pro-Israel stance after the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults, at the same time as different lefties harshly criticize the warfare’s toll on civilians killed in Gaza.
Democratic guide Neal Kwatra mentioned Torres might be a “formidable” candidate for any workplace.
“He is without doubt one of the smartest, most strategic and considerate members of the Democratic Occasion of his era,” Kwatra advised The Publish Monday. “He does the work, he builds relationships. He has readability of what authorities ought to be doing. He’s a workhorse, not a present horse. We’d like work horses, not present horses.”
Torres additionally reiterated his competition that each Adams’ and Hochul’ administration bore accountability for “layers and layers of failure” resulting in the early launch of Rivera, regardless of his assault of a correction officer throughout his final jail stint.
“Not solely did the state and town fail to punish him for assaulting a corrections officer, however the metropolis launched him early for good habits,” he mentioned. “And the tip outcome was three New Yorkers stabbed to loss of life. So, if he had by no means been launched early and had accomplished his full sentence these three New Yorkers who have been murdered could be alive at present. That’s the value New Yorkers pay when authorities fails.”
Adams’ and Hochul’s camps didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
— Extra reporting by Craig McCarthy
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