Rui Xu
{{short description|American politician from Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rui Xu
| birth_name = Rui Xu
| birth_place = Switzerland
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1989}}
| state_house = Kansas
| district = 25th
| predecessor = Melissa Rooker
| successor =
| term_start = January 8, 2019
| term_end =
| occupation = Sports analyst
| party = Democratic
| alma_mater = University of Southern California{{cite web |title=Meet Rui |url=https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/meet-rui/ |website=Rui Xu for Kansas |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006135627/https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/meet-rui/ |url-status=live }}
}}
Rui Xu (born 1989) is an Chinese American politician. He is a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives for the 25th district since 2019.
He is the first Chinese American to serve in the Kansas Legislature and the only Asian American currently serving.
Early life and education
Xu was born in 1989 in Switzerland before moving to Rolla, Missouri. When he was twelve became a US citizen.{{cite web |title=Meet Rui – Rui Xu for Kansas |url=https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/meet-rui/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006135627/https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/meet-rui/ |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=Rui Xu for Kansas}}
Xu studied economics at the University of Southern California.
Political career
Rui was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives for the first time in 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Melissa Rooker.{{Cite web |last=Korte |first=Lara |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Former State Rep. Melissa Rooker named executive director of Kansas Children’s Cabinet |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article225922430.html |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=The Kansas City Star |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212221207/https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article225922430.html |url-status=live }} With the victory Xu became the first Chinese American to serve in the Kansas Legislature.{{Cite web |last=Ritter |first=Sarah |date=October 21, 2019 |title=5 KC area candidates never imagined running for office. Then they worked for Davids |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235970717.html |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=The Kansas City Star |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510214504/https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235970717.html |url-status=live }} As of the 2024 election cycle he is the only Asian American currently serving.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2021 |title=Asian American Kansas lawmaker says he was threatened at bar |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-american-kansas-lawmaker-says-was-threatened-bar-rcna474 |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127021145/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-american-kansas-lawmaker-says-was-threatened-bar-rcna474 |url-status=live }}
In 2020 and 2022, Xu ran for the seat unopposed.{{Cite web |title=2020 General Election Official Vote Totals |url=https://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/20elec/2020_General_Official_Vote_Totals.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Kansas Secretary of State |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107130746/https://sos.ks.gov/elections/20elec/2020_General_Official_Vote_Totals.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=2022 General Election Official Vote Totals |url=https://sos.ks.gov/elections/22elec/2022-General-Official-Vote-Totals.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Kansas Secretary of State |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202084830/https://sos.ks.gov/elections/22elec/2022-General-Official-Vote-Totals.pdf |url-status=live }} In 2024, he ran against Republican challenger Greg J. Schoofs.{{Cite web |title=2024 General Election Official Vote Totals |url=https://sos.ks.gov/elections/24elec/2024-General-Election-Official-Vote-Totals.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Kansas Secretary of State |archive-date=March 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306205401/https://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/24elec/2024-General-Election-Official-Vote-Totals.pdf |url-status=live }}
= Kansas House Committee Assignments =
Xu has served on the Kansas House committees for Agriculture, Education, Higher Education Budget, and Financial Institutions and Pensions. He also served on the 2020 Special Committee on Kansas Mental Health Modernization.{{Cite web |title=Representative Rui Xu |url=https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2020/b2019_20/members/rep_xu_rui_1/ |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Kansas State Legislature |archive-date=April 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403174058/https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2020/b2019_20/members/rep_xu_rui_1/ |url-status=live }}
Political positions
Xu is a member of the Democratic party. He opposes restrictions to abortions, he was against the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum which sought to restrict abortion in the state.{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2024 |title=Kansas House District 25 candidates on the issues: Abortion |url=https://johnsoncountypost.com/2024/10/16/kansas-house-district-25-candidates-on-the-issues-abortion-244732/ |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Johnson County Post |language=en-US}} He has been endorsed by the nonprofit health services organization Planned Parenthood.{{Cite web |title=Issues |url=https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/issues/ |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Rui Xu for Kansas |language=en-US |archive-date=June 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624010258/https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/issues/ |url-status=live }}
Xu has proposed several bills to address climate change. He supports expanding LGBTQ rights in Kansas, condemning the passage of a bill that restricted same-sex couples from adopting children.
Reference
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.ruixuforkansas.com/}}
{{Kansas House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Rui}}
Category:Asian-American people in Kansas politics
Category:American politicians of Chinese descent
Category:Democratic Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States
Category:Swiss emigrants to the United States
Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators