Ritchie Torres

Liberal

Democrat

House Representative

New York - District 15

Current Position: US House Representative NY-15

Running For: House Representative - District 15

Policy Positions

For cryptocurrency industry; supports crypto-friendly regulation, opposes SEC 'regulation by enforcement' approach toward cryptocurrencies, and supports allowing Americans to bet on U.S. elections on prediction markets like Kalshi
For enforcing TikTok divest-or-ban law; co-signed a letter urging Trump to comply with the law and not grant further extensions

For requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all commercial air travelers in the U.S.; introduced H.R. 4980 in 2021 to mandate vaccines for anyone flying to or from U.S. airports

For a Green New Deal and green energy initiatives; supports converting public housing into green, energy-efficient buildings

For removing U.S. troops from Syria; voted in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 directing President Biden to withdraw troops within 180 days
Against transferring cluster munitions to Ukraine; voted in favor of a ban on cluster munitions delivery to Ukraine in July 2023
For military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan; voted in favor of all three military aid package supplementals in April 2024
For strong U.S. support of Israel; identifies as a Zionist and pro-Israel progressive, opposes BDS movement, supported a two-state solution in 2022, rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and co-introduced the COLUMBIA Act to place antisemitism monitors at colleges
For overhauling federal immigration enforcement; co-sponsored the New Way Forward Act in 2021 to eliminate mandatory detention, decriminalize unauthorized entry and reentry, narrow deportation grounds, and expand judicial discretion

For the Laken Riley Act requiring ICE detention of undocumented immigrants accused of nonviolent theft-based crimes; voted for the bill in January 2025, reversing a prior 2024 vote against it; also supports ending NYC's 'right to shelter' for non-long-term residents
Against 'defund the police'; previously supported defunding at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement but by 2022 renounced the position, stating 'the defund police movement is dead in New York City and good riddance' and blaming it for Democratic electoral losses