NYC Gazette

Ritchie Torres, a U.S. Congressman representing New York's 15th district, has been vocal on social media about the impact of Medicaid and vaccination policies on his constituents. Torres succeeded José E. Serrano in Congress in 2021 and has since focused on issues affecting vulnerable populations in his district.

On March 11, 2025, Torres highlighted the high Medicaid enrollment rate in his district, stating "My district has the 2nd highest Medicaid enrollment rate in the nation." He emphasized that Republican efforts to cut Medicaid funding are not abstract political maneuvers but rather direct threats to the health and well-being of his constituents.

Later that day, Torres elaborated on how Medicaid supports various groups within his community. In a tweet posted at 19:54 UTC, he stated that "In my district, Medicaid covers: 72% of children 82% of nursing home residents 91% of baby deliveries 56% of ER visits, clinic visits, and outpatient surgeries." He warned that any attacks on Medicaid would disproportionately affect New York’s most vulnerable populations—children, seniors, and families.

On March 13, Torres addressed public health concerns related to vaccination skepticism. He praised vaccinations as a triumph of human progress by tweeting "Vaccination is a success story of human progress." He criticized anti-vaccine conspiracy theories as disqualifying for those seeking leadership roles in policy-making.