Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres said Wednesday he isn’t “likely” to run for governor against incumbent and fellow Democrat Kathy Hochul next year.
Torres’ comments come after Andrew Cuomo lost to Zohran Mamdani in last week’s Democratic Party primary — with the congressman previously saying a Cuomo victory would be key to whether he would take on Hochul.
“I’m unlikely to run for governor,” Torres said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. “Like the assault that we’ve seen on the social safety in the Bronx is so unprecedented, so overwhelming that I’m going to keep my focus on Washington DC.”
Torres said he will focus on running for re-election to the House of Representatives and fighting President Trump and the Republicans’ budget bill. The congressman claimed their policies would hurt the poor residents in his district who rely on welfare programs such asl Medicaid .
“So, my heart lies in Washington DC,” he said. “I feel like now, more than ever, we have to fight the catastrophe that is the Trump presidency.”
Earlier this year, Torres had slammed Hochul’s governorship on issues ranging from stewardship of the MTA and failing to address quality of life issues such as homelessness, the mentally ill and open air illegal street drug markets.
Hochul is suffering from lackluster poll numbers overall, but remains the easy favorite in a party primary as her estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has already announced he is challenging her in the Democratic primary.
Republicans Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler are eyeing a run for the statehouse.
