Ritchie Torres

Ritchie Torres, born on March twelfth, nineteen eighty-eight, is a prominent American politician who has been serving as the U.S. representative for New York's fifteenth congressional district since January third, twenty twenty-one. A dedicated member of the Democratic Party, Torres previously held a position on the New York City Council from two thousand fourteen to two thousand twenty, where he made significant contributions to local governance.

During his tenure on the City Council, Torres chaired the Committee on Public Housing and served as a deputy majority leader. His leadership extended to the Oversight and Investigations Committee, where he tackled critical issues such as predatory lending related to taxi medallion procurement and the city's Third Party Transfer Program. In two thousand sixteen, he was a delegate for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, showcasing his commitment to progressive values.

In July two thousand nineteen, Torres announced his candidacy for New York's fifteenth congressional district, aiming to succeed Representative José E. Serrano. This district is recognized as one of the most Democratic-leaning in the nation. His victory in the November two thousand twenty general election marked a historic moment, as he and Mondaire Jones became the first openly gay Black men elected to Congress, with Torres also being the first openly gay Afro-Latino to achieve this milestone.

In the 117th United States Congress, Torres has taken on significant roles, serving as one of nine co-chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus, previously known as the Congressional LGBTQ+ Caucus, and co-chairing the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus. He is known for his pro-Israel advocacy, which has drawn criticism from some progressive circles, particularly in light of the ongoing Gaza conflict.