Rep. Ritchie Torres on Wednesday refused to rule out mounting a 2026 Democratic main problem to Gov. Hochul.
Though he dodged a direct query about taking over Hochul, the Bronx lawmaker pointedly decried a “crisis of governance” on each the state and metropolis ranges.
“I am frustrated,” he added, “as are most New Yorkers.”
When a reporter famous “that doesn’t sound like a no” to taking over Hochul, Torres solely replied: “That’s as far as I’m going to go.”
Torres, a third-term reasonable who represents a district stretching from the South Bronx to Riverdale, known as President-elect Donald Trump’s broad victory a wakeup name for incumbent Democrats in Washington — and Albany.
“With a few exceptions, nowhere was there a greater swing to Donald Trump than in New York. which was a vote of no confidence in the leadership of New York State,” Torres stated. “We have a leadership crisis in America, and nowhere is it more profound than in New York.”
New York voters swung by about 10% to Trump total, a shift that included main swings in deep-blue New York Metropolis and even suburbs that had been principally shifting to the left.
Torres is an outspoken supporter of Israel. He’s additionally been a harsh critic of progressives earlier than and after Election Day and sometimes says Democrats must hew to the political heart to regain misplaced political momentum.
Hochul is predicted to run for reelection in 2026 however might face challenges on either side of the aisle.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Westchester County congressman, is broadly anticipated to mount a Republican problem to her, and a few Democrats have warned that he would have an honest likelihood of beating Hochul.
Hochul has made additionally made enemies inside her personal celebration over her dealing with of congestion pricing and different scorching potato points.
The previous Buffalo congresswoman’s approval scores are dismal. Simply 34% of New Yorkers had a positive opinion of her. Even Democrats are break up down the center on her efficiency within the state home.
After taking workplace when Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped down, Hochul ran a rocky 2022 race and managed to eke out a surprisingly slim 6% win over ex-Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Additional down poll, Republicans additionally gained 5 congressional seats wherein Democrats have been favored. They recaptured 4 of these seats this yr, one other indication that Hochul dragged down fellow Democrats.
Initially Revealed: November 20, 2024 at 3:56 PM EST
