Assemblymember Emérita Torres

Assemblymember Emérita Torres represents New York’s 85th Assembly District, encompassing Hunts Point, Longwood, Soundview, Clason Point, and Harding Park in the South Bronx. A lifelong Bronx resident, she brings two decades of experience in public policy, diplomacy, and community advocacy to her work advancing economic opportunity, affordable housing, and social equity.

Before her election, she served as Vice President of Policy, Research, and Advocacy at the Community Service Society of New York, where she led initiatives to expand the half-price MetroCard program, strengthen tenants’ rights, improve rental assistance, and promote homeownership. She also co-led national efforts addressing the rising cost of living through the National True Cost of Living Coalition.

Earlier in her career, Assemblymember Torres spent a decade as a U.S. diplomat, serving in Brazil, Pakistan, Colombia, Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations. Her work addressed labor rights, climate change, peacekeeping, and women’s rights. She later directed policy research and programs at The Soufan Center, focusing on national security challenges, including disinformation and extremism.

Her dedication to the Bronx extends through community leadership with the Bronx River Arts Center and WHEDco, mentoring local students, and providing essential supplies to families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first in her family to graduate from college, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from New York University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. A proud mother of two, she resides in Soundview with her partner and children.