Legislative service
Torres lost his initial bid for representative to the Democrat Solomon Ortiz, Jr., 59-36 percent, with the remaining 5 percent for a Libertarian contender. There were 41,635 votes cast in District 33 in 2008. In their rematch in 2010, Torres unseated Ortiz, 52.5 – 47.5 percent, in a total turnout of only 23,805. Ortiz's father, Solomon Ortiz, Sr., was also defeated in that same election for the United States House of Representatives by the Republican Blake Farenthold. Torres attributed the switch of 17 points between 2008 and 2010 to the failure of many Texas supporters of U.S. President Barack H. Obama to vote in the mid-term elections and his own willingness to campaign actively in Democratic strongholds in which he could reduce the Democratic margin of victory even if he could not carry such precincts himself.[4]
In 2011, Torres voted against HB1, the state budget, having noted that calls to his office were 10-1 against the measure.[4] Torres has questioned the sharp increases in educational funding despite stagnant growth in the number of school pupils statewide. "Each year more than 130,000 Texas students enter high school and do not graduate. Often the majority of these students are minorities from a low socio-economic background. But this crisis is not just about the students in public education; it is something that will ultimately impact the entire state," he warns.[5]
When redistricting placed Torres in a revised heavily Democratic District 34 with his friend and fellow freshman Republican Connie Scott, Torres decided to run instead in 2012 for the District 20 seat in the Texas State Senate held by Democrat Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa.[6] Hinojosa defeated Torres for the Senate position in the general election held on November 6, 2012.
Torres is active in local youth sports programs and is a member of the Church of Christ in Corpus Christi. He and his wife, Gina Torres,[1] have four daughters and one son.
