Patricia Rucker

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Patricia Rucker

| image = Patricia Rucker by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Rucker at the 2024 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation

| state_senate = West Virginia

| alongside = Jason Barrett

| district = 16th

| predecessor = Herb Snyder

| party = Republican

| birth_name = Patricia Elena Puertas{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|4|27}}

| birth_place = Caracas, Venezuela

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = Trinity Washington University (B.A.)

| profession =

| spouse = James M. Rucker, Jr.

| residence = Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, U.S.

| office1 = Chair of the West Virginia Senate Education Committee

| termstart = December 1, 2016

| predecessor1 = Kenny Mann

| successor1 = Amy Grady

| termstart1 = January 9, 2019

| termend1 = August 29, 2022

| children = 5

}}

Patricia Rucker (born Patricia Elena Puertas on April 27, 1974) is a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 16th district since January 11, 2017. Rucker served as the chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee from 2019 to 2022.{{Cite web |last=McElhinny |first=Brad |date=2022-09-08 |title=At meeting where Rucker was removed as education chair, she got a job offer |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2022/09/08/at-meeting-where-rucker-was-removed-as-education-chair-she-got-a-surprise-job-offer/ |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}}

Rucker was born in Venezuela.{{Cite news|first=Larisa |last=Casillas |authorlink= |title= From Venezuela to the West Virginia Senate, meet Sen. Patricia Rucker |newspaper=WOWK|date= October 5, 2021|url=https://www.wowktv.com/hidden-history/hispanic-heritage-month/from-venezuela-to-the-west-virginia-senate-meet-sen-patricia-rucker/ |via=}} The first Hispanic woman to represent West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Rucker emigrated from Venezuela with her parents at the age of 6 and became a U.S. citizen in 2004.

Election results

2020: After running unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary, Rucker faced Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty in the November 3, 2020 general election.{{Cite news|last=Umstead|first=Matthew|date=September 17, 2020|title=Dougherty opposes Rucker in her bid for second term in W.Va. Senate|work=The Herald Mail-Media|url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/election_2020/west_virginia/dougherty-opposes-rucker-in-her-bid-for-second-term-in-w-va-senate/article_e097e96a-5982-5e7c-aab6-29b073e54029.html|access-date=}} Rucker beat Dougherty, 52-48%, to win a second term.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=November 3, 2020 General Election Results|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/#/summary|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 16 (Position B) election, 2020{{cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/#/summary|title=Statewide Results: General Election - November 3, 2020|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=February 15, 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Rucker (incumbent)

|votes = 25,582

|percentage = 51.84%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Pete Dougherty

|votes = 23,768

|percentage = 48.16%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 49,350

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

2016: After the retirement of Herb Snyder, Rucker ran for the Republican nomination in the open seat race. Rucker, a teacher and president of We The People of West Virginia and Jefferson County, a local tea-party affiliate, faced attorney and lobbyist Joe Funkhouser in the Republican primary.{{Cite news|last=Belisle|first=Richard|date=April 11, 2016|title=Two seek GOP nod in W.Va. 16th Senate District race|work=The Herald-Mail Media|url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/two-seek-gop-nod-in-w-va-16th-senate-district-race/article_7883c38e-0038-11e6-979b-0b1614ae83ab.html|access-date=}} Rucker beat Funkhouser 56-44% to advance to the November general election.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225112543/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|archive-date=December 25, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2021|website=}} Rucker faced Delegate Stephen Skinner in a rematch of their 2014 House race. Rucker defeated Skinner 53%-47%.

{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 16 (Position B) election, 2016{{cite web|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results: General Election - November 8, 2016|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=October 30, 2017|archive-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225112543/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Rucker

|votes = 22,499

|percentage = 52.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Skinner

|votes = 20,122

|percentage = 47.21%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 42,621

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = West Virginia Senate District 16 (Position B) Republican primary, 2016

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Patricia Rucker

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 5,359

| percentage = 55.95%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Joe Funkhouser

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 4,219

| percentage = 44.05%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 9,578

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia House District 67 election, 2014{{cite web|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2014&eid=21&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results: General Election - November 4, 2014|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=October 30, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107040731/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2014&eid=21&county=Statewide|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Stephen Skinner (incumbent)

|votes = 2,636

|percentage = 51.29%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Rucker

|votes = 2,503

|percentage = 48.71%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 5,139

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

Recognition

In 2024, the magazine Governing recognized Rucker on their Public Officials of the Year list for her work on school vouchers.{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Nonpareil|title=Magazine recognizes Reynolds' accomplishments|date=October 5, 2024|page=A6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-magazine-recognizes/170149389/}}{{cite web|website=Governing|url=https://www.governing.com/poy/2024/patricia-rucker-public-officials-of-the-year-2024|title=The Woman Who Helped Kick Off a School Choice Revolution|date=Fall 2024|first=Zina|last=Hutton|access-date=April 12, 2025}}

References

External links

[http://www.wvlegislature.gov/senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Rucker West Virginia Legislature - Senator Patricia Rucker] official government website
[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=148634 Project Vote Smart - Senator Patricia Rucker (WV)] profile

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Caracas

Category:People from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in West Virginia

Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics

Category:Venezuelan emigrants to the United States

Category:Republican Party West Virginia state senators

Category:Women state legislators in West Virginia

Category:Trinity Washington University alumni

Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:Latino conservatism in the United States

Category:21st-century members of the West Virginia Legislature