WASHINGTON — South Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres could also be inching towards a bid for statewide workplace after unveiling a obscure new marketing campaign social media account, high Empire State Democrats inform The Submit.
Torres, 36, was elected to Congress in 2020 after seven years on New York’s Metropolis Council — and on Thursday launched an X web page with the person identify @RitchieTorresNY.
Whereas Torres is straight away involved with securing a 3rd Home time period Nov. 5, insiders say the shortage of specific labeling may foreshadow a 2026 run for governor, lieutenant governor and even state legal professional common.
“An unsaid truth in New York politics is that Ritchie Torres may be very electable statewide, so a brand new marketing campaign X account isn’t simply enjoyable — it’s elementary to any larger plans,” one well-connected New York Democrat unaffiliated with Torres informed The Submit.
“Ritchie Torres may, surely, be elected statewide — and each statewide politician is aware of it.”
Torres, who’s overtly homosexual, has drawn important nationwide consideration up to now 12 months over his outspoken assist of Israel.
He’s additionally one of many few members of Congress to have grown up in low-income public housing.
The lawmaker served as Democrats’ level individual in counter-messaging Donald Trump’s Thursday night time attraction to black and Hispanic voters when the previous president visited the Bronx for a big rally, showing Friday morning on MSNBC.
However the X account’s vagueness has additionally turned heads for an additional purpose.
“I’m Ritchie Torres, raised in Bronx public housing, and I turned the primary overtly homosexual Afro-Latino elected to Congress. That is my official marketing campaign account,” the congressman tweeted Thursday in considered one of 4 messages posted as of noon Friday.
“The whole lot is on the poll. From our democracy to girls’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Are you able to please retweet so others can be a part of?” he wrote.
A second New York Democratic supply informed The Submit that Torres would have a tougher path to larger workplace if statewide incumbents resembling Gov. Kathy Hochul and state AG Letitia James search one other time period.
“Torres could possibly be a robust candidate for statewide workplace if he can discover points to champion that resonate outdoors of the lower-income communities he represents,” the second supply stated.
“However his youth and lack of identify recognition can be important challenges to beat if he’s making an attempt to take out seasoned incumbents.”
A 3rd outstanding New York Democrat, Robert Zimmerman, informed The Submit that “crises propel people into nationwide management.”
“Ritchie Torres emerged as a nationwide chief for LGBTQ rights, rights of financial justice, and definitely for Israel,” stated Zimmerman, who’s a member of the Democratic Nationwide Committee.
“Ritchie can be a robust main candidate for any opening that happened in New York or nationally.”
Whom precisely Torres would possibly problem is unclear greater than two years out, and his workplace didn’t straight tackle hypothesis about his political future when contacted Friday by The Submit.
“Like,” his communications director Benny Stanislawski responded, “and observe.”
Supply hyperlink
