Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) announced his endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) in New York’s 2026 gubernatorial race on Tuesday, months after calling her an “electoral train wreck waiting to happen.”
The congressman’s announcement ends his interest in running for governor, although he previously said he wouldn’t enter the race if it meant he had to contend with New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani if elected.
Torres said he’s “proud to stand” with Hochul because of the “unprecedented assault” that the Trump administration is waging against New York.
“The Trump administration’s signature piece of legislation, the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, represents one of the greatest assaults on working families here in The Bronx that I’ve ever seen,” he said in a statement, citing the anticipated cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the GOP-led megabill that President Donald Trump signed into law last month.
“It’s going to raise the cost of utilities for small businesses and American families,” he added. “And so now more than ever, it’s important for every Democrat and every New Yorker to stand with the governor.”
The statement starkly contrasts the representative’s previous comments about the governor.
Torres called Hochul an “electoral train wreck” in February, based on a Siena poll showing 57% of New York voters wanting her out of office and only 31% wanting her reelected. He also called her “feckless,” a “down-ballot disaster,” an “accidental governor,” and the “new Joe Biden.”
The lattermost insult came weeks after Trump won the 2024 election. Torres warned that if Hochul waited too long to acknowledge her unpopularity as the Democratic incumbent, New York could elect a Republican governor in 2026.
“Let’s avoid repeating history and avoid sleepwalking toward impending disaster and defeat,” Torres once said.
Moving past their differences, Torres joined Hochul at a Monday rally in the Bronx to slam what they called Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill” and the legislation’s “crippling” effects on working families in New York.
Hochul welcomed Torres’s endorsement despite their past rivalry.
“Congressman Torres and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we know what matters most: delivering a safer, more affordable New York for every family and coming together to fight back against Donald Trump,” the governor said in a statement.
“Today, we are sending a message, Democrats are united, energized, and focused heading into 2026. That’s how we deliver for New Yorkers — and that’s how we win,” she added.
Hochul is up for reelection next year, facing Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado in the Democratic primary.
STEFANIK TORCHES HOCHUL AS ‘WORST GOVERNOR IN AMERICA’ AFTER ‘PATHETIC’ PRESS CONFERENCE
Meanwhile, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said she would decide by the end of the year whether to run for governor. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) announced last month that he would not run for governor but seek reelection in his congressional district.
The latest Siena poll shows Hochul with a 42%-44% favorability rating and 53%-42% job approval rating, both of which were improvements from her June numbers. However, her lead in a potential challenge against Stefanik dropped to 14 points from her previous 23-point lead.