VoterLens
Data last updated 10/27/2026
Torres graduated from Herbert H. Lehman High School and attended New York University from 2006 to 2007. Before seeking elected office, he worked as a civil servant and community organizer, including as a staffer to New York City Council member James Vacca focusing on housing. He served on the New York City Council from 2014 to 2020 and was elected to the U.S. House beginning January 3, 2021.
Committee Assignments: Financial Services · Homeland Security · Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
Ritchie Torres’s healthcare record emphasizes expanding access and affordability, particularly through Medicaid and Medicare protections, mental health and addiction treatment, community health data, home health care, and prescription-drug cost relief. In public messaging, he frames health care as a core affordability issue for Bronx working families and opposes cuts to health care programs.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres proposed legislation in the health area aimed at preventing Medicare clawbacks, aligning with his broader emphasis on lowering prescription-drug and Medicare-related costs.
SourceTorres proposed legislation to support community-level health profiling, reflecting a focus on public health data and targeted health interventions for local communities.
SourceTorres proposed repealing the Medicaid IMD exclusion so Medicaid could cover inpatient mental health and substance-use-disorder treatment in qualified facilities.
SourceTorres co-sponsored legislation focused on improving stroke education and emergency medical services care.
SourceTorres co-sponsored legislation connecting food access with community health centers, reflecting a view of nutrition access as part of health care delivery.
SourceRitchie Torres emphasizes affordability, economic opportunity, and removing barriers to good-paying work for Bronx residents. His Economy & Jobs record includes support for skills-based hiring, consumer financial protections, access to banking and remittances, financial literacy, and job creation through a Civilian Climate Corps.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres supports requiring federal contractors to review and justify college-degree requirements so that skills, experience, and ability can qualify workers for good-paying jobs.
SourceTorres proposed legislation categorized under finance and financial sector policy, indicating a focus on protecting access to financial services.
SourceTorres proposed a resolution disapproving the withdrawal of CFPB guidance on deceptive marketing practices about the speed or cost of sending remittance transfers.
SourceTorres proposed finance-sector legislation addressing integrity in campaign event contracting.
SourceTorres co-sponsored legislation in the labor and employment area to create jobs through a Civilian Climate Corps framework.
SourceRitchie Torres emphasizes accountability and transparency in immigration enforcement, particularly around ICE and CBP identification during operations, while also criticizing overly broad or politically extreme immigration messaging. His recent immigration record centers on the Quick Response/Recognition Act and public objections to masked or unidentified federal immigration enforcement actions.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres proposed legislation requiring ICE and CBP personnel engaged in immigration enforcement to wear clearly visible, scannable QR codes linking to verified DHS identity information for the officer or employee.
SourceTorres publicly promoted the Quick Response Act as a response to masked or unidentified federal immigration officers, arguing that immigration enforcement should include clear identification and public accountability.
SourceTorres criticized the detention of Dylan and warned that courthouse arrests of law-abiding individuals could deter families from attending court, discourage students from going to school, and erode trust in public institutions.
SourceTorres argued that Democrats should avoid political excesses on immigration and should meet voters where they are rather than letting far-left messaging define the party on the issue.
SourceRitchie Torres generally supports federal climate action, clean-energy jobs, conservation, and environmental justice, while also arguing for faster permitting and streamlined environmental reviews to build clean-energy and other infrastructure. His record on this topic includes co-sponsoring a Civilian Climate Corps bill and supporting the Inflation Reduction Act's climate investments.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres co-sponsored legislation to establish a Civilian Climate Corps focused on helping communities respond to climate change and transition to a clean economy through jobs and service opportunities.
SourceTorres proposed legislation related to public lands and natural resources, aligning with conservation and environmental stewardship priorities.
SourceTorres co-sponsored legislation in the public lands and natural resources area addressing wildlife confiscations and related conservation enforcement issues.
SourceTorres is identified by GiveGreen as having voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, described there as major federal action to address climate change.
SourceIn an official statement, Torres argued that agencies should adopt a pro-abundance approach to streamlining environmental reviews, including for clean-energy projects such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and related infrastructure.
SourceRitchie Torres emphasizes expanding access to higher education, especially for Bronx, low-income, first-generation, and immigrant students, while opposing federal loan rules that would restrict access to professional degrees. He has also supported targeted education investments, youth academic programming, financial literacy for students, and stronger protections for students in early intervention and campus settings.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres proposed legislation in the education area after warning that restrictive federal student loan rules could make advanced degrees in fields such as nursing, education, social work, clinical psychology, and engineering less affordable for students.
SourceTorres urged the Department of Education and the White House to revise proposed student loan rules and preserve federal borrowing access for post-baccalaureate professional degree programs in essential licensed fields.
SourceTorres announced $1 million in federal community project funding for Hostos Community College to support transfer pathways and dual-degree opportunities for Bronx students pursuing fields including public health, engineering, and arts administration.
SourceTorres announced $700,000 in federal funding for Hostos Community College library renovations to improve study spaces, technology access, and the learning environment for more than 6,000 students.
SourceTorres co-sponsored a resolution encouraging greater public-private collaboration to promote financial literacy for students and young adults.
SourceRitchie Torres emphasizes a public-safety approach centered on gun-violence prevention, transit security, accountability for violent offenders, and remembrance/prevention after deadly local tragedies. His record also includes co-sponsoring criminal-justice reform through marijuana decriminalization and supporting counterterrorism/security measures abroad.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Torres proposed a resolution recognizing the victims of the 1990 Happy Land Social Club fire in the Bronx and designating a day of remembrance for the tragedy.
SourceTorres co-sponsored legislation categorized under crime and law enforcement that would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act framework and address related criminal-justice consequences.
SourceTorres co-sponsored a resolution recognizing the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel, honoring victims and hostages, and calling for the complete disarmament of Hamas.
SourceTorres supports increased federal Transit Security Grant funding, arguing it would improve subway safety, surveillance, and efforts to combat gun violence tied to interstate gun trafficking.
SourceTorres called for New York City and State to prohibit early release for people deemed dangerous to the public, people who assault law-enforcement officers, or people who commit crimes while in custody.
SourceBallotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/New_York%27s_15th_Congressional_District_election%2C_2026_%28June_23_Democratic_primary%29Fetched: biography
U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives
https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/25769817872Fetched: biography, committees
FEC API
https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/H0NY15160/totals/Fetched: totalRaised, totalSpent, cashOnHand
OpenWatchdog
https://www.openwatchdog.com/member/T000486Fetched: partyAlignment, missedVotes, keyVotes
OpenSecrets
https://www.opensecrets.org/profiles/ritchie-torres/us_congress/summary?cycle=2026&mpid=1120222Fetched: campaignFinance
Ballotpedia search result
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/06/24/incumbent-ritchie-torres-d-defeated-michael-blake-d-and-jose-vega-d-in-the-democratic-primary-for-new-yorks-15th-congressional-district/Fetched: endorsements
Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsements
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/endorsementsFetched: endorsements
Human Rights Campaign endorsement
https://www.hrc.org/news/human-rights-campaign-endorses-ritchie-torres-for-congressFetched: endorsements
Human Rights Campaign PAC 2026 endorsements
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-endorses-a-slate-of-pro-equality-members-and-candidates-up-for-election-in-key-competitive-u-s-house-districtsFetched: endorsements
NYS AFL-CIO endorsements 2024
https://www.local94.com/media/202892/nys_afl_cio_endorsements_2024.pdfFetched: endorsements
League of Conservation Voters 2024 National Environmental Scorecard
https://www.lcv.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-LCV-National-Environmental-Scorecard.pdfFetched: ratings
Club for Growth Foundation 2024 Congressional Scorecard
https://clubforgrowthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/2025/05/2024-Congressional-Scorecard-FINAL.pdfFetched: ratings
American Civil Liberties Union congressional scorecards
https://www.aclu.org/congressional-scorecardsFetched: ratings
Planned Parenthood Action Fund congressional scorecard
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/congressional-scorecardFetched: ratings
Human Rights Campaign congressional scorecard
https://www.hrc.org/resources/congressional-scorecardFetched: ratings
Humane Society Legislative Fund 2022 Humane Scorecard
https://hslf.org/sites/default/files/scorecard/pdfs/HumaneScorecard_2022_web_1.pdfFetched: ratings
Common Cause 2022 Democracy Scorecard
https://democracyscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DemocracyScorecard_2022v9.pdfFetched: ratings
Eating Disorders Coalition 2024 scorecard
https://eatingdisorderscoalition.org/couch/uploads/file/2024-edc-scorecard-finalized-10-4-24-1.pdfFetched: ratings
Turning Point Action scorecard
https://www.tpaction.com/scorecard/legislators/ritchietorresFetched: ratings
Ritchie Torres House Office
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-reintroduces-bill-to-repeal-the-imd-exclusion-and-expand-medicaid-coverage-for-mental-health-and-addiction-treatmentFetched: issuePositions
Ritchie Torres House Office
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-introduces-the-employment-abundance-act-into-the-u-s-house-of-representativesFetched: issuePositions
Official House website of Rep. Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-introduces-the-quick-response-qr-act-to-increase-transparency-and-accountability-in-immigration-enforcementFetched: issuePositions
Official House website of Rep. Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/congressman-torress-record-on-ice-and-immigration-abuses-from-the-trump-administrationFetched: issuePositions
The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/11/democrats-immigration-problem/680645/?utm_source=apple_newsFetched: issuePositions
Official congressional statement PDF
https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/ritchietorres.house.gov/uploads/2025/06/6.3.25-NEPA.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Branch.vote
https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-new-york-general-election-ny-state-us-representative-ny-congressional-15/candidates/ritchie-torresFetched: issuePositions
Congress.gov
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1238Fetched: issuePositions
Congressman Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-urges-department-of-education-to-protect-graduate-students-access-to-federal-loansFetched: issuePositions
Congressman Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/u-s-rep-ritchie-torres-awarded-1000000-in-community-project-funding-to-hostos-community-collegeFetched: issuePositions
Congressman Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/congressman-ritchie-torres-joins-hostos-community-college-to-announce-700000-in-federal-funding-for-library-renovationsFetched: issuePositions
Congress.gov
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1123Fetched: issuePositions
Congress.gov
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1618Fetched: issuePositions
News 12 Bronx
https://bronx.news12.com/rep-torres-calls-for-more-federal-funding-to-improve-transit-safetyFetched: issuePositions
Congressman Ritchie Torres
https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/ritchietorres.house.gov/uploads/2024/11/Letter-to-Governor-Hochul-and-Mayor-Adams_Ramon-Rivera.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Congressman Ritchie Torres
https://ritchietorres.house.gov/resources/public-safetyFetched: issuePositions