Patricia Rucker
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April 27, 1974
Patricia Rucker | |
|---|---|
 Rucker at the 2024 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation | |
| Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 16th district | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Herb Snyder |
| Chair of the West Virginia Senate Education Committee | |
| In office January 9, 2019 – August 29, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kenny Mann |
| Succeeded by | Amy Grady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Patricia Elena Puertas[citation needed] April 27, 1974 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | James M. Rucker, Jr. |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Trinity Washington University (B.A.) |
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.[1]
Rucker was born in Venezuela.[2] 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.[2]
2020: After running unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary, Rucker faced Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty in the November 3, 2020 general election.[3] Rucker beat Dougherty, 52-48%, to win a second term.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia Rucker (incumbent) | 25,582 | 51.84% | |
| Democratic | Pete Dougherty | 23,768 | 48.16% | |
| Total votes | 49,350 | 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.[6] Rucker beat Funkhouser 56-44% to advance to the November general election.[7] Rucker faced Delegate Stephen Skinner in a rematch of their 2014 House race. Rucker defeated Skinner 53%-47%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia Rucker | 22,499 | 52.79% | |
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 20,122 | 47.21% | |
| Total votes | 42,621 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patricia Rucker | 5,359 | 55.95% | |
| Republican | Joe Funkhouser | 4,219 | 44.05% | |
| Total votes | 9,578 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner (incumbent) | 2,636 | 51.29% | |
| Republican | Patricia Rucker | 2,503 | 48.71% | |
| Total votes | 5,139 | 100.0% | ||
