A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 63, which includes portions of southeastern Minneapolis and eastern Richfield in Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Torres Ray's legislative concerns included education, health and human services, the environment, and economic development.

On March 31, 2010, state senator and 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial candidate John Marty announced that Torres Ray would be his running mate for lieutenant governor.

[4] On June 5, 2018, Torres Ray filed to run for the 5th district congressional seat previously held by Keith Ellison.

[7] Torres Ray met her husband, Jack, when he was a University of Minnesota student in Colombia for a study abroad internship.