Ritchie Torres

Ritchie Torres's mother chose his name after watching La Bamba and being drawn to Ritchie Valens.¹ He grew up at Throggs Neck Houses in the Bronx with his mother, sister and twin brother.¹ As a boy, he played The Rock in wrestling shows his friends staged on the housing development's playground.¹

His mother supported three children with cafeteria work and pizza delivery.¹ Torres graduated from Herbert H. Lehman High School and attended New York University.² As a teenager, he met James Vacca, then a local community board manager, and later joined Vacca's Council campaign and staff.³

Torres won election to the City Council at 25 and chaired its Public Housing Committee.³ He helped organize a hearing at Coney Island Houses to examine conditions after Superstorm Sandy.³ He entered Congress in January 2021 and serves on the House Financial Services Committee, including its Housing and Insurance subcommittee.²⁴ His committee assignments also cover digital assets and artificial intelligence.⁴

For 2026, Torres identifies housing and healthcare affordability, economic opportunity, protecting immigrants from ICE, and government transparency as priorities.⁵ He says his office helps residents navigate housing assistance, federal benefits and immigration matters.⁵ He seeks reelection with Republican Stylo Sapaskis among four challengers in the district's five candidate field.⁶