Ritchie Torres Questions Hochul's Reelectability in 2026

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has criticized Governor Kathy Hochul, labeling her as 'the new Joe Biden,' suggesting she is in denial about her vulnerabilities as a Democratic nominee for the 2026 gubernatorial election. In a series of posts on social media, Torres warned that Hochul's unpopularity could lead to a Republican victory, drawing parallels to President Biden's failure to exit the presidential race in a timely manner. He emphasized that the recent gains made by Trump in New York signify a 'vote of no confidence' in state leadership, with concerns that a lack of decisive action could result in a Republican governor for the first time in 30 years. Torres, who has not made a final decision on running against Hochul, stated there is a significant 'leadership crisis' in New York, exacerbated by recent electoral losses for Democrats. He criticized Hochul for her handling of controversial policies and the perception of incompetence surrounding her administration. The situation reflects broader concerns within the Democratic Party about its direction and leadership leading into the upcoming elections.