New York Representative Ritchie Torres is exploring a gubernatorial campaign for 2026, expressing significant concerns about the current leadership under Governor Kathy Hochul.
The Washington Examiner reported that Representative Torres is currently conducting a statewide "listening tour" as he considers a challenge to Governor Kathy Hochul in the upcoming 2026 election.
As part of his preliminary campaign efforts, Torres is seeking insights from voters across various New York regions, with particular focus on the upstate and suburban communities.
Torres has voiced a strong critique of Governor Hochul's administration, likening her position and political vulnerabilities to those of President Joe Biden. According to Torres, both leaders show signs of underestimating their electoral challenges.
He stressed this comparison further by suggesting that the Democratic leadership in New York might be in a state of denial regarding the hurdles they face.
During his engagements with the media, Torres has articulated a broad critique of what he perceives as failures in Democratic governance in New York.
His observations followed a notably poor performance by Vice President Kamala Harris in the state, which Torres referred to as a "vote of no confidence" in the current state leadership.
Furthermore, Torres has highlighted what he describes as a "poverty of governance" that contributed to significant Democratic losses in Congress during the 2022 midterm elections and perceived gains by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
He attributes these setbacks to ineffective state leadership under Democrats, which he believes could continue to jeopardize their prospects.
One of the key platforms in Torres’s potential campaign appears to be a call for the Democratic Party to distance itself from far-left interest groups. He argues that the influence of these groups detracts from the party's ability to form a broader electoral coalition and to govern effectively.
Torres advocates for a more centrist approach, believing that this could enhance the electoral success of the party.
His critique also extends to certain policy decisions by Governor Hochul, such as the controversial congestion pricing toll plan. Initially paused, this plan was revived post-2024 elections, which Torres cites as an example of Hochul's wavering leadership potentially leaving her vulnerable to Republican challengers.
Discussing the broader political environment, Torres pointed to what he terms the "blue wall" in New York as showing real signs of weakness.
This metaphor describes the traditional stronghold that the Democratic Party has held over New York state, which now appears to be faltering under the current administration according to Torres.
In addition to his gubernatorial ambitions, Torres is also reportedly considering a run against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, indicating a broader critique of Democratic leadership at various levels of state governance.
However, his communications director Benny Stanislawski emphasizes that no definitive decision has been made yet regarding these potential campaigns.
In contrast to the bleak picture painted by Torres, Governor Hochul’s office remains optimistic. Her spokeswoman, Jen Goodman, highlighted the successes of the recent election cycle under Hochul's leadership, delivering four new Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Goodman maintains that Governor Hochul is focused on key issues such as reducing crime and lowering living costs for families, suggesting a different perspective on the effectiveness of her governance.