Raul Ruiz

In the 2024 House race for CA-25, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Ian M. Weeks (R) 56.3% to 43.8%. Raul Ruiz received 137,837 votes compared to 107,194 for Ian M. Weeks, a comfortable 12.5-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Raul Ruiz benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for CA-25, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Brian E. Hawkins (R) 57.4% to 42.6%. Raul Ruiz received 87,641 votes compared to 65,101 for Brian E. Hawkins, a comfortable 14.8-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This race flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. Mike Garcia (R) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Democrat, Raul Ruiz won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office).

In the 2018 House race for CA-36, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Kimberlin Brown Pelzer (R) 59.0% to 41.0%. Raul Ruiz received 244,338 votes compared to 169,678 for Kimberlin Brown Pelzer, a comfortable 18.0-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Raul Ruiz benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Raul Ruiz benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2016 House race for CA-36, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Jeff Stone (R) 62.0% to 38.0%. Raul Ruiz received 144,348 votes compared to 88,269 for Jeff Stone, a dominant 24.1-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Raul Ruiz benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2014 House race for CA-36, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Brian Nestande (R) 54.2% to 45.8%. Raul Ruiz received 72,682 votes compared to 61,457 for Brian Nestande, a 8.4-point margin that indicates a genuinely contested race.

As the incumbent, Raul Ruiz benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Raul Ruiz won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Obama was in office).

In the 2012 House race for CA-36, Raul Ruiz (D) defeated Mary Bono Mack (R) 52.9% to 47.1%. Raul Ruiz received 110,189 votes compared to 97,953 for Mary Bono Mack, a 5.9-point margin that indicates a genuinely contested race.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2012 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.