Ritchie Torres — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in New York, 2026

Ritchie Torres announced legislation to prohibit federally regulated banks from collecting customers' citizenship or immigration status, seeking to protect financial privacy and prevent banks from acting as immigration enforcement. He also sponsored H.R. 7233, a bill requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to wear a visible and scannable QR code during enforcement activities.

“While we watch our immigrant brothers and sisters get persecuted, harassed, falsely detained, and even unlawfully deported. Richie Torres”

Ritchie Torres opposes cuts to Medicaid, joining Governor Hochul and others to warn against the "Big Ugly Bill" that would reduce funding for vital programs for families and hospitals. He also leads efforts to protect home health care funding, opposing a proposed federal payment rule that could cut over $1 billion. Additionally, Torres has voted in favor of the Right to Contraception Act and the Women’s Health Protection Act, supporting reproductive freedoms.

Representative Ritchie Torres maintains a strong pro-environment voting record, evidenced by a 100% score from the League of Conservation Voters in 2025 and a 98% lifetime score. He has consistently voted against legislation that would weaken environmental protections, such as the Reliable Power Act and bills limiting environmental review. Torres also secured over $18 million in FY26 community project funding for the Bronx, which includes support for climate research, urban ecology, and marine habitat restoration.

““These investments seek to address many of the priorities I hear directly from my constituents in the Bronx,” said Rep. Torres. “Community Project Funding allows us to direct federal resources toward urgent local needs, from safe housing and violence prevention to climate resilience, education, and access to technology. This funding will deliver tangible improvements to quality of life across our communities, and I am so proud to have worked to bring these dollars home to the Bronx.””

Ritchie Torres supports abortion and reproductive rights. He voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R.26) and for the Right to Contraception Act, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (H.R.8297), and the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R.3755). He also sponsored the Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2025 (HR4888). As co-chair of Equality PAC, he has stated a commitment to defending reproductive freedom.

“Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said, '...Julie has been a fearless advocate for equality, working families, women, and marginalized communities across the nation. During her first term in Congress, she has brought the voices of LGBTQ Texans into the halls of power, championed legislation to expand civil rights protections, fought to defend reproductive [freedom]'”

Ritchie Torres is a strong supporter of Israel, a position that has been central to his political identity. He voted against an amendment that aimed to provide flexibility in reducing nuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missiles below 400. Additionally, he voted against removing unfunded priority lists from the defense budget. Torres also emphasizes that Congress holds the constitutional power to declare war, criticizing unilateral presidential actions without legislative authorization.

““Under the Constitution, the separation of powers is clear: Congress has the power to declare war. The President, as Commander in Chief, has the power to command the military in a war that Congress has authorized. With respect to the war in Iran, authorization has neither been sought by the President nor granted by Congress.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres, statement on Pres. Trump’s Action in Iran, ritchietorres.house.gov.”

Ritchie Torres advocates for addressing widespread disparities in educational opportunities for children. He highlights that young people of color often attend disparately underfunded schools and face strikingly segregated classrooms. Torres believes there is a moral obligation to tackle these issues impacting vulnerable communities, especially in his district. This stance aligns with his goal to be a national champion for the urban poor.

“My dedication to these issues is founded upon a fundamental belief that communities like ours in the Bronx have been notoriously underserved, and are under even greater threat today. We have a moral obligation to address the issues plaguing our most vulnerable communities. The city is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis with homelessness hitting record levels. We must protect New York’s public housing stock in the face of federal budget cuts, and fight to deepen affordability for low-income residents. We must also address the widespread disparities in opportunity for our children. Young people of color are forced to learn in disparately underfunded schools, and their classrooms are strikingly more segregated than their neighborhoods. If we want to give everyone in our district a”

Ritchie Torres voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which expanded background checks for individuals under 21 and prevented some domestic violence offenders from purchasing firearms. He also voted to pass HR 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and HR 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, demonstrating support for stricter gun control measures.