Assemblymember Emérita Torres represents the 85th District in the South and Southeastern Bronx, including Hunts Point, Longwood, Soundview, Clason Point, and Harding Park. A lifelong Bronx resident, Emérita brings 20 years of progressive experience in public policy, diplomacy, and advocacy to the Assembly, with a career defined by a commitment to equity, justice, and opportunity.

Emérita Torres - Assembly District 85 | New York State Assembly

Emérita’s journey from humble beginnings—her parents’ hard work, reliance on public assistance programs, and access to rent-stabilized housing—fuel her resolve to break systemic barriers. As the first in her family to graduate from college, she earned a B.A. in History from New York University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Emérita is a proud mother of two and lives with her partner and children in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

Emerita Torres is a lifelong Bronx resident. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from New York University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is a mother of two and lives with her partner and children.

Emérita Torres - Assembly District 85 |Assembly Member Directory

Before her election, Emérita served as the Vice President of Policy, Research, and Advocacy at the Community Service Society, New York’s leading anti-poverty organization. In this role, she spearheaded transformative, data-driven campaigns to expand economic opportunity across New York.

Emérita’s career also spans a decade as a U.S. diplomat, tackling global challenges, including labor rights advocacy, climate change mitigation, peacekeeping, and protecting women’s rights in conflict. Her diplomatic tours with the U.S. Department of State included Brazil, Pakistan, Colombia, Washington, D.C., and the United Nations.

As Director of Policy Research and Programs at The Soufan Center, she advanced efforts to address national security challenges including disinformation, terrorism, and the rise of authoritarianism. Her advocacy led to the sanctioning of the first white supremacist group in U.S. history.

Emerita Torres previously served as vice president of policy, research, and advocacy at the Community Service Society. She also worked as a U.S. diplomat and as director of policy research and programs at The Soufan Center.

Emerita previously served as vice president of policy, research, and advocacy at the Community Service Society. She also worked as a U.S. diplomat and as director of policy research and programs at The Soufan Center.

(Applause) Assemblymember Emerita Torres was elected to represent the 85th Assembly District in the Bronx. Her district includes Hunters [sic] Point, Longwood, Soundview, Clason Point, and Harding Park.

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Emerita was elected to represent the 85th Assembly District in the Bronx.

2026 New York General Election

The One Fair Price Package consists of two bills that would protect New Yorkers from surveillance pricing, an unfair pricing scheme in which companies use shoppers’ personal data to set individualized prices for consumers. The One Fair Price Act, sponsored by Senator May and Assemblymember Emerita Torres, would ban surveillance pricing in New York.

Attorney General James Rallies in Syracuse to Ban Surveillance Pricing

“The Assembly’s passage of the One Fair Price Act is a major victory for consumers and affordability. While technology can benefit consumers, surveillance pricing is not innovation—it is exploitation,” said Assemblymember Torres. “By using vast amounts of our personal data and algorithms to determine how much someone is willing to pay, companies can charge different prices for the same product or service. New Yorkers deserve a fair and transparent marketplace where they can compare prices with confidence and know they are being treated equally. This legislation protects consumers, promotes affordability and ensures a fairer marketplace for all.”

Speaker's Press Releases | New York State Assembly (Assembly Passes Legislation to Protect New Yorkers from Surveillance Pricing)

Here’s what she’s already accomplished: Secured over $8 million in new investments for our district to strengthen local services, infrastructure, and community priorities. Directed $7 million toward keeping housing affordable. Allocated $1 million in discretionary funding. Passed the first-in-the-nation surveillance pricing disclosure law. Led the fight for universal childcare. Invested in the formation of a merchants’ association along the Westchester corridor. Stopped the vehicular expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway.

Accomplishments — Emerita Torres for NY

Sponsored the One Fair Price Act to ban surveillance pricing, which uses consumer data to set individualized prices.

Invested in the formation of a merchants’ association along the Westchester corridor.

- Sponsored the One Fair Price Act to ban surveillance pricing, which uses consumer data to set individualized prices.
- Invested in the formation of a merchants’ association along the Westchester corridor.

Economy

Stopped the expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway for vehicles.

- Stopped the expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway for vehicles.

Energy & the Environment

As of September 9, 2026, Emerita Torres’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Introduced the BEACON Act, strengthening anti-bullying guidance in schools and explicitly including immigrants as a protected class — ensuring every student is safe from harassment and discrimination. Co-sponsored the New York for All Act, limiting state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement so local resources remain focused on community safety and essential services. Co-sponsored the RADAR Act, requiring the creation of a public online dashboard to track and disclose immigration enforcement activity, increasing transparency and accountability. Co-sponsored the MELT Act, which would prohibit law enforcement — including federal agents — from wearing masks during enforcement actions and require clear identification, strengthening public trust and accountability.

Co-sponsored the New York for All Act to limit state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

Co-sponsored the RADAR Act to create a public online dashboard disclosing immigration-enforcement activity.

Co-sponsored the MELT Act to prohibit law-enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks during enforcement actions and require them to show identification.

- Co-sponsored the New York for All Act to limit state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
- Co-sponsored the RADAR Act to create a public online dashboard disclosing immigration-enforcement activity.
- Co-sponsored the MELT Act to prohibit law-enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks during enforcement actions and require them to show identification.

Public Safety

As a former diplomat, Emerita believes preparing young people to engage thoughtfully with the world is essential to their future success. In partnership with Global Kids, she is developing a pathway to ensure students gain meaningful international exposure and the opportunity to graduate with a diploma credential that reflects their understanding of global issues, civic responsibility, and leadership. By investing in global education, Emerita is preparing Bronx students to compete — and lead — in an interconnected world.

Here’s what she’s already accomplished: Secured over $8 million in new investments for our district to strengthen local services, infrastructure, and community priorities. Directed $7 million toward keeping housing affordable. Allocated $1 million in discretionary funding. Passed the first-in-the-nation surveillance pricing disclosure law. Led the fight for universal childcare. Invested in the formation of a merchants’ association along the Westchester corridor.

Develops a partnership with Global Kids for international exposure and a diploma reflecting global issues, civic responsibility, and leadership.

Introduced the BEACON Act to strengthen school anti-bullying guidance and include immigrants as a protected class.

- Develops a partnership with Global Kids for international exposure and a diploma reflecting global issues, civic responsibility, and leadership.
- Advocates for universal childcare.
- Introduced the BEACON Act to strengthen school anti-bullying guidance and include immigrants as a protected class.

Education

Here’s what she’s already accomplished: Secured over $8 million in new investments for our district to strengthen local services, infrastructure, and community priorities. Directed $7 million toward keeping housing affordable. Allocated $1 million in discretionary funding. Passed the first-in-the-nation surveillance pricing disclosure law. Led the fight for universal childcare.

Before taking office, Emerita helped expand transit affordability through the half-price MetroCard program, reformed rental assistance, and strengthened tenants’ and homeowners’ rights for low-income New Yorkers. She also co-led national efforts on the true cost of living crisis.

Meet Emerita — Emerita Torres for NY

Directed $7 million toward keeping housing affordable.

Helped reform rental assistance and strengthen tenants’ and homeowners’ rights for low-income New Yorkers.

- Directed $7 million toward keeping housing affordable.
- Helped reform rental assistance and strengthen tenants’ and homeowners’ rights for low-income New Yorkers.

Housing & Urban Development

LinkedIn

Twitter

Instagram

Emerita Torres

- Advocates for universal childcare.
- Introduced the BEACON Act to strengthen school anti-bullying guidance and include immigrants as a protected class.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.