“We made history. It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the essential borough, The Bronx,” Ritchie Torres tweeted.
With more than 80% of the votes, Democrat Ritchie Torres of New York made history, becoming one of two openly gay Black men elected to the House of Congress. Torres is joined by Mondaire Jones who won New York’s 17th Congressional District.
RELATED: These Latinos Will Make History if They Win
Torres, a 32-year-old Afro-Latino and former city councilman, will now be representing New York’s 15th Congressional District.
“Thank you,” Rep. Torres tweeted last night. “Tonight, we made history. It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the essential borough, The Bronx.” He’s also proud to “represent a borough filled with essential workers who risked their lives so that New York City could live” during the pandemic.
The New York University alumnus and East Bronx native received 136,471 votes against his opponent, Republican Patrick Delices, yet more ballots are still being counted.
RELATED: The Alcapurria Recipe You Need to Deal With Election Stress
“Whether it’s housing or food insecurity, poverty, or inequality, the struggles of the South Bronx are not academic to me. These are struggles I’ve lived in my own life,” Torres told The Americano earlier this week. “My story is the story of The Bronx. It’s a story of struggle. But it’s also a story of overcoming. And that’s the story of America.”
Aside from addressing mental health issues and socioeconomic matters as his platform, Torres, whose father is Puerto Rican and mother is African American, will also be taking on injustices within local authorities.
“Police departments across the country cannot be trusted to police themselves,” Torres told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” earlier this year. “There has to be an independent system for investigating, punishing, and, if necessary, prosecuting police misconduct.”
Several organizations lauded his win, including the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
Politics
Teamsters and UPS Reach Tentative Deal to Avoid Strike, 340,000 Workers to Get Raises
The tentative deal represents a huge win for full- and part-time UPS Teamster workers, who would get significant pay raises and better working...
One Republican Senator Is Blocking 265 Military Promotions, Leaving the Marines Without a Confirmed Leader
Sen. Tommy Tuberville's decision means these military officers are not getting the pay raises they’re owed, cannot move their families to wherever...
Local News
Teamsters and UPS Reach Tentative Deal to Avoid Strike, 340,000 Workers to Get Raises
The tentative deal represents a huge win for full- and part-time UPS Teamster workers, who would get significant pay raises and better working...
One Republican Senator Is Blocking 265 Military Promotions, Leaving the Marines Without a Confirmed Leader
Sen. Tommy Tuberville's decision means these military officers are not getting the pay raises they’re owed, cannot move their families to wherever...