Rep. Ritchie Torres: We couldn't care less about... Mickey Mouse challengers [like] The Democratic Socialists Of America

[MayReasonRule]

Asked about threats to primary incumbent Democrats, congressman Ritchie Torres replies, "We couldn't care less about Mickey Mouse primary challenges."

"We do not care about the Democratic Socialists of America."

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social) 2025-07-10T16:12:57.556Z

[MayReasonRule]

1. Quote From Man Stabbed

[harumph]

3. Yes, he seems so "unconcerned."

[tritsofme]

2. Torres is a great Democrat! He'll eat these little shits for breakfast!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

4. I really like him n/t

[Cuthbert Allgood]

5. "Little shits"? You mean other Democrats?

Primaries happen. They are part of the system. It's so weird how "vote blue no matter who" isn't so much a thing when a progressive wins a primary.

[comradebillyboy]

21. DSA isn't the Democratic Party and

we don't need to humor them.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

24. They are running as Democrats.

So, again, vote blue no matter who isn't a priority?

[W_HAMILTON]

25. "Vote blue no matter who" is for the general -- not the primary. Not that the DSA types follow that anyway...

[Cuthbert Allgood]

29. So calling a Dem running in a Dem primary a "little shit" is OK?

Seems like that hasn't been the practice here.

[W_HAMILTON]

37. I mean, surely you saw all the things Cuomo was called? I wish everyone would realize that attacking each other...

...only helps Republicans, but it's a lesson that many -- especially the DSA types -- seem to not want to learn.

[choie]

30. The primary is over.

Mamdani is now the Democratic candidate for mayor.

[W_HAMILTON]

38. Mamdani on your mind much? Because the OP was talking about Ritchie Torres and the threat of DSA primarying Democrats.

Neither it -- nor my comment -- had anything to do with Mamdani.

[choie]

39. That's a nice change...for you.

[W_HAMILTON]

40. ??? I haven't commented on Mamdani much. He's now the Democratic nominee and I fully support him.

I have, however, criticized some of his most fervent supporters for being hypocrites in terms of how they demand absolute loyalty to him, even when many of those same types have not extended the same benefit to many of our other Democratic candidates through the years.

[Arazi]

34. Right. Fuck Bernie Sanders and all of his supporters

Who needs them these days? And gawd forbid we harness the youth vote Mamdani is attracting! No need to “humor” them either!

[comradebillyboy]

35. When did Bernie Sanders become a member of DSA?

[MayReasonRule]

7. Hmm... Remember AOC's Electoral Race? I Do, Lol... Remember, Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day

[tritsofme]

9. Yep, he'll enjoy it. AIPAC will give him billions! It will be fun. 😜

[Mossfern]

10. Only AIPAC?

?

[Celerity]

28. Ritchie Torres, D- NY and Tom Emmer, R-MN co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Crypto Caucus this year

Key crypto group backs specific lawmakers for the first time



https://www.semafor.com/article/04/30/2025/key-group-stand-with-crypto-backs-specific-lawmakers-for-the-first-time


Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.

Stand With Crypto will name eight members of Congress as its first-ever “crypto champions” today in the advocacy group’s first concerted effort to elevate specific politicians this election cycle, a spokesperson told Semafor.

The list includes Reps. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., who founded the bipartisan Congressional Crypto Caucus last month and are slated to appear together this afternoon in a new series of fireside chats the group is also launching today.

It also includes Reps. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., and French Hill, R-Ark., and Sens. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.

Stand With Crypto, whose ratings helped crypto super PACs decide how to spend millions of dollars last year, plans to tap new lawmakers each quarter — and eventually expand its consideration to congressional candidates, the spokesperson said.

snip


Related

https://financefeeds.com/congressional-crypto-caucus/

Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) launched the Congressional Crypto Caucus as a voting block within Congress to garner support and encourage private innovation within the United States. The bipartisan initiative was launched on March 3, 2025, with the objective of addressing the growing demand for regulatory clarity and support for the cryptocurrency industry.

Rep. Torres announced to the Congressional Crypto Caucus in a post on X that the caucus will form a unified, bipartisan group to cement America’s leadership in the future of digital assets and blockchain technology. Similarly, Rep. Emmer indicated the caucus’s potential to unite lawmakers behind digital asset initiatives, calling it “a bloc vote in Congress—a bipartisan caucus of members who are willing to mobilize to advocate for and protect open, permissionless, and private innovation in the United States.



The Congressional Crypto Caucus

The launch of the Congressional Crypto Caucus is due to tremendous growth in the cryptocurrency market. The newly launched Congressional Crypto Caucus is not the same as the one formed in 2017. The caucus was formed, according to Congressman Emmer, in response to the millions of American voters who voted for representatives that would prioritize the growth of the digital assets space.

On 2nd March 2025, United States President Donald Trump made an announcement for the establishment of a national crypto reserve. The statement increased congressional focus on digital assets as Trump indicated that the reserve will have major tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with other popular projects like XRP, Solana, and Cardano.

snip

[choie]

31. Really?

What has he done. I liked him when he was in the NYC Council, but as a rep, he's a big disappointment.

[Ars Longa]

48. Who is the "We" ?? n/t

[dutch777]

6. It's what the voters care about that we sometimes seem to be missing or willfully ignoring. As much as I hate eLoon,

it would be interesting to see what a real new party would do to the system. Traditional Repugs have their issues with MAGA/Trump and many traditional Dems aren't so on board with their party platform any more. And then there are the 25% of Dem voters that couldn't be bothered to even vote at all in an election as consequential as 2024. I wouldn't be challenging upstarts to primary me and see how that works out.

[MayReasonRule]

11. Musk's New Party Will Split The MAGAT Voting Base... Threaten Me With A Good Time!!!

And I agree...

I wouldn't be challenging upstarts to primary me at their earliest convenience to how that works out.

[dutch777]

13. Watching MAGAts in turmoil would be fun but could vacuum off disaffected Dems too. DANGER Will Robinson DANGER!!!

[MayReasonRule]

15. That's An Ineresting Supposition... I Just Don't See It. I Am Genuinely Curious Though What Leads You To Surmise Such

Happy Thursday by the way!!

[Arazi]

8. Fuck that big tent shit amiright

[MayReasonRule]

14. We're The Big Tent Party But We Couldn't Care Less About You...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. A lot of butthurt DSAs on Bluesky

[MayReasonRule]

16. Hmm... An Interesting Description Of Your Perception

What's your perception of Mamdami as a person and of Mamdani's candidacy?

Do or would you embrace D.S.A. party members as being a part of our Democratic Party?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. Personally, I don't have a problem with Mamdami.

But this third-party primarying shit is how we ended up with Trump twice and G DUHbya before him.

[MayReasonRule]

33. I Agree That Being Split Is A Part Of The Problem. The Other Problem Of Course Is Motivating Turnout.

Thank you for replying!

AOC blew folks doors off.

Mamdani has done the same.

My take is it's gonna' require a lot more than speeches on the House or Senate floor or pontificating platitudes on the steps of a government building.

My take is it's gonna' take our Representatives and Senators showing up and putting up.

My translation of that involves them pushing their conventional envelope and being there for the fights throughout our nation, in order to spot light them and bring greater weight to bear in real time in fighting back against these fascist hordes.

Here's to a blue tsunami, here's to the restoration of our freedoms through our nation's return to reason's rule.

[displacedvermoter]

49. Hear, hear!

Well said.

[choie]

32. Nothing to be butthurt about.

Mamdani is our Democratic candidate for mayor.

[displacedvermoter]

17. Says one of Andrew Cuomo's disappointed gang

Not being a New Yorker any longer, I have no stake in this fight. But got to say endorsing Andrew Cuomo in an unsuccessful race that was his to lose isn't the best way to kick off a reelection campaign should someone even somewhat to the left of Torres decide to challenge him.

[BeyondGeography]

18. Big man could always jump in and challenge Mamdani

Or is he afraid of getting his ass kicked?

[MayReasonRule]

20. I Said Welcome, Welcome To The Jungle!

[Celerity]

36. After months of ripping NY Dem Gov. Hochul, and teasing a primary run, Ritchie 'Crypto Caucus founder' Torres backed off

https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/07/ritchie-torres-will-not-run-governor/406504/

July 2, 2025

Rep. Ritchie Torres said he is “unlikely to run for governor” as he intends to advocate for his Bronx district, given the unprecedented policies coming out of Congress and the Trump Administration.

Torres made the comments during an MSNBC appearance on Wednesday morning, and his absence from the race would leave a gap to the right of Gov. Kathy Hochul in what was expected to be a three-way Democratic primary that will also feature her rogue Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado running to Hochul’s left.

Torres had already hinted he would probably stay out of the race if Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last week’s Democratic primary for New York City. He’s since changed his tune on the reasoning behind the decision, but it would appear he’s true to his original word now that Mamdani has won.

Back in the 15th Congressional District, some are calling on former Assembly Member Michael Blake, who cross-endorsed Mamdani in the mayoral primary, to challenge him in a primary next year. Blake tweeted cryptically about Torres on Wednesday – “He's not running for Governor He won't endorse the Dem Nominee for Mayor” – but has not said whether he plans to run against Torres.

Link to tweet

snip

[Prairie Gates]

19. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you...

[AloeVera]

23. Of course he doesn't care.

He has a deep well of funds he can draw on, unlike those who call out a genocide.

Rep. Torres might find that his constituents - in the poorest district of the U.S. - could have other ideas about how democracy should work and who might better represent THEIR interests.

[Nanjeanne]

26. AIPAC certainly gets their money's worth with him.

Just in one year . . .
2024 https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ritchie-torres/summary?cid=N00044346&cycle=2024&type=I]

You sure do get what you pay for.

[BeyondGeography]

27. Knock me over with a feather

[Americanme]

41. This is disappointing

I too want Hakeem Jeffries to be speaker. But I will not belittle progressives. My kids are progressives, they love Democratic Socialists. Young people must have a voice. And what have the mainstream Democrats done lately? Besides lose the White House, the Senate, and the House? trump got his terrible, disgusting cabinet picks approved. Got his big, barf-inducing bill passed. Got his unqualified judges seated. Many of us are becoming disillusioned.

[Passages]

42. I believe he is referring to their donor status compared to his.

In his mind, he has something to brag about and therefore nothing to worry about.

Deeply short-sighted and cynical IMO.

[mcar]

43. Kick!

[Passages]

44. Dean Phillips: Question: Is there room for you and Mamdani in the Democratic Party?

Phillips: The answer, ultimately, I think, is no

When you have socialists in the Democratic Party, I don't know how anybody could argue that that would be beneficial for the party or for the country

Link to tweet

It may take generational change. I am not surprised by his response, and it is unfortunate how dismissive he is of the policies that young people are demanding from their government. If they do not receive it, then it serves as another reminder that we are not what we say we are...WE the people.

[vanessa_ca]

46. But come voting time, it's a bunch of big tent bs

and come knock on doors for us to get out the vote. It's unbelievable how suicidal they are.

[Passages]

47. Donor class vs. working class.

There is no rocket science involved.

[SocialDemocrat61]

45. Sounds like Joe Crowley

before AOC whipped his ass.