Democrat Ritchie Torres' torrent of attacks against own party fuels primary showdown buzz in New York

Torres has been vocally opposed to the blue stronghold's progressive criminal justice policies and has criticized how Gov. Kathy Hochul has managed the Empire State, raising eyebrows about a potentially bruising primary in 2026.

"Hochul has a history of coded stereotyping, falsely claiming that young black Bronxites have never heard of the word 'computer.' She knows as much about me and communities of color as she knows about governing effectively. Absolutely nothing," he wrote on X last week.

When reached for comment, Torres' spokesperson told Fox News Digital that he is weighing a gubernatorial bid "and plans to make a final decision by mid-2025."

The congressman himself gave insight into his thinking when he recently went after New York City Mayor Eric Adams for employing a staffer who had been accused of ripping down posters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas.

In late November, he accused both Adams and Hochul of being "complicit" in a stabbing spree that left three New Yorkers dead. 

That same month, he lambasted New York's policies as bad for business.

Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., who chaired the New York State Republican Party for over a decade, said it was not shocking to see Torres attacking Hochul while mulling his own gubernatorial bid.

"Richie Torres is vocalizing many of the same criticisms Republicans have raised about the dysfunction in Albany. So it's not surprising that she's facing a challenge from her own party," Langworthy said.

However, he dismissed Torres' critiques of progressivism as "posturing in the face of Hochul's failures and the undeniable success" of Trump's platform.

Torres had been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) until earlier this year, when he left over disagreements about Israel. 

When asked about Torres' criticism, Hochul said at a recent press conference that she was "a little busy" doing her job.

"Those who have government jobs who aren't focused on their jobs, and are focused on an election almost two years off, I would think their constituents would have a problem with that," she said.