Torres-Nieves, Puerto Rico's Secretary of the Senate of Puerto Rico first served during the tumultuous years of 2005-2008 in which the Senate was controlled by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (NPP) while the governorship had been controlled by the pro-status quo Popular Democratic Party, served a second consecutive term as Senate Secretary after having served as Acting President of the Senate from January 1–12, 2009, between the Senate presidencies of Kenneth McClintock and Thomas Rivera Schatz.
He then served as Puerto Rico's first Electoral Comptroller before his third election as Secretary of the Senate during Rivera Schatz' historic second non-consecutive term as Senate President.