Editor’s Note: Norwood News is officially on our annual summer hiatus. However, we are continuing to publish some ad hoc stories online that we couldn’t get to earlier this year. We hope you all get to enjoy the last few weeks of summer and thanks, as always, for reading. 

 

Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced his endorsement of Kathy Hochul for reelection as Governor of New York on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

 

Asked during an interview with News12 about prior rumors that Torres, himself, had been considering a run for governor, Torres said not only was he not running for governor but he was “proudly endorsing” Hochul for the role. “We’re facing an unprecedented assault from the Trump administration,” Torres said in reference to U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called and recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” dubbed the “Big Ugly Bill” by Democrats.

 

He said it was going to cause 17 million people to lose their health coverage, including one million in New York and 100,000 in The Bronx. “It’s going to slash Medicaid by a trillion dollars, the largest healthcare cut in history,” he said. “It’s going to slash SNAP by $300 billion, the largest food assistance cut in history,” he added.

 

Torres continued, “It’s going to raise the cost of utilities for small businesses and American families, and so now, more than ever, it’s important for every Democrat and every New Yorker to stand with the governor as she fights with New York and fights against the Trump administration and I’m proud to stand with Gov. Kathy Hochul.”

 

Torres was asked if his decision not to run for governor was swayed by the fact that Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36) is the frontrunner in the upcoming mayoral general election and Torres had endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor even before Cuomo had formally announced he was running in the Democratic primary, which he subsequently lost.

 

Since Mamdani’s primary win, as reported, though Torres previously said there is much he disagrees with Mamdani on, he has defended him against Republican threats of deportation, and said they have spoken. Asked by News 12 if he was planning to endorse anyone in the race, Torres said he accepted that Mamdani was the Democratic nominee, was likely going to be the next mayor of the City, and looked forward to “building a working relationship” with him.

 

The congressman said he was impressed at how knowledgeable Mamdani was on all of the issues affecting the City and added that it was in everyone’s interest to be on the same team i.e. that of The Bronx and that of New York. Torres said his decision not to run for governor was more to do with Trump’s win adding that he felt he, being from The Bronx, was now more needed in Congress to fight back against the effects of the Trump presidency.

 

“Even when I leave The Bronx for Washington D.C., The Bronx never leaves me,” Torres said he tells his constituents. “The Bronx is not only where I live, it’s who I am. It’s encoded within my DNA.” He added the most important lesson his mother ever taught him was “Never forget where you came from.” He added, “And I proudly come from The Bronx.”

 

Torres’ seat is also up for reelection next year and the congressman has been quite actively demonstrating in recent months his presence in The Bronx via various social media videos, perhaps in efforts to counter the allegation that he focuses too much on Israel, for which he has received a lot of pushback, as reported.

 

Torres also referenced Trump’s campaign visit to The Bronx, and said, “He promised to be a champion of working families. He’s betraying them.” He said he intends to work with Hochul to hold the president accountable.

 

Torres and Hochul had attended an event the previous day in the South Bronx with other local elected officials, doctors, and healthcare leaders to warn against what they said would be the “destructive ramifications” of Trump’s bill.

 

The governor later said of the event, “Trump’s big, ugly bill puts food assistance at risk for 272,000+ Bronx residents. It hits health care workers, children, and seniors here harder than anywhere else. @RepRitchie and I are standing up for them, and standing up to those who voted for this chaos.” She added, “Donald Trump and Washington Republicans are screwing New Yorkers. It’s that simple. @RepRitchie Torres and I are fighting back.”

 

Asked about his previous criticisms of the governor even earlier this year, including references to Hochul being “tone deaf,” “a hypocrite,” and “embarrassing,” Torres said most of those descriptions pre-dated the second Trump presidency.

 

“I feel like the governor has been extraordinarily effective at resisting the worst of a Donald Trump presidency and protecting The Bronx, and it’s often said that when America sneezes, The Bronx gets the flu, and The Bronx is going to be the hardest hit by Donald Trump’s draconian cuts to health care and food,” the congressman said.

 

He added, “You know, my congressional district, which is exclusively in The Bronx, has a Medicaid enrollment rate of 70%, so more than 70% of children, more than 80% of nursing home residents, more than 90% of baby deliveries depend on Medicaid,” he said. “One third of the Bronx is enrolled in SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] and so the governor has been effective at protecting The Bronx from the worst of a Donald Trump presidency and so, I’m proud to endorse her.”

 

Torres was then asked about a specific X post from November 2024 in which he wrote,” Kathy Hochul is the new Joe Biden. She may be in denial about the depth of her vulnerabilities as a Democratic nominee. A Democratic incumbent who is less popular in New York than Donald Trump is in grave danger of losing to a Republican in 2026 – an outcome not seen in 30 years.”

 

It continued, “Waiting until it’s too late gave us a Republican President in 2024 and could give us a Republican Governor in 2026. Let’s avoid repeating history and avoid sleepwalking toward impending disaster and defeat. ‘Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.'”

 

Torres was asked what had changed since then to make him change his view. “Well, first I was wrong” Torres said matter-of-factly. “I underestimated the governor, and the message I have for people like Donald Trump is you underestimate Gov. Kathy Hochul at your own peril.”  He went on to quote Theodore Roosevelt who reportedly said, “Speak softly but carry a big stick,” before adding that he said he felt that perfectly described Hochul’s style which he said was “substantive, not performative.”

 

“She’s focused on solving problems and that’s the kind of leadership we need right now,” he said. The Roosevelt quote was reminiscent of one by Nancy Pelosi during a Bronx visit in March 2022 with former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16).

 

Asked about her leadership style and addressing the women attendees in particular, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives said that politics was not for the faint of heart. ”When you get into that arena, you have to be able to take a punch, right? But you have to be able to give a punch too,” she said, gesturing with her fist before adding with a smile and her now famous, raised, index finger “for the children.”

 

Asked about Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s June announcement that he was running for governor to unseat his former running mate and boss, Torres diplomatically said he had nothing against Delgado and knew and respected him, but was for Hochul who he said had delivered for The Bronx. Torres had actually sworn in Delgado to his role as lieutenant governor in 2023.

 

The congressman went on to list Hochul’s accomplishments including expanding both the child tax credit and childcare, which he said had the potential to reduce child poverty by 17%, delivering “billions of dollars” for the MetroNorh expansion to give Bronxites access to Penn station, and delivering “tens of millions of dollars” for the Hunts Point food distribution center, which he described as an engine of economic development for the borough. “So, the results speak for themselves,” he said.

 

Hochul posted on social media on Monday, Aug. 18, that she and her husband were celebrating 41 years of marriage. “41 years with the man I fell in love with as a young Assembly intern,” the governor wrote alongside a photo of herself and her husband. “Happy anniversary to an extraordinary husband, father, and grandfather. Looking forward to our future together.” It was followed by wink emoji.

 

Asked what Torres would say to New Yorkers who may not be convinced by his about-turn given his previous remarks about the governor, the congressman said, “Judge the governor by her record. She has delivered for the borough that I have called my home my whole life.”