Deborah Rudolf
Deborah Rudolf (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Massachusetts State Senate to represent Plymouth and Barnstable District. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Rudolf completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Deborah Rudolf earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Lesley University, a masters in dispute resolution from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a J.D. from Northeastern School of Law. Her professional experience includes working as a teacher, bookkeeper, mediator, and attorney. Her organizational affiliations include the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Public Policy Committee, Gay Lesbian Taskforce, and First Parish in Plymouth.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District
Incumbent Vinny deMacedo defeated Deborah Rudolf in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Vinny deMacedo (R) | 58.8 | 46,229 |
 | Deborah Rudolf (D)  | 41.2 | 32,365 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 32 | ||
| Total votes: 78,626 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District
Deborah Rudolf defeated Stephen Michael Palmer in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Deborah Rudolf | 57.6 | 6,939 |
 | Stephen Michael Palmer | 42.4 | 5,113 | |
| Total votes: 12,052 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District
Incumbent Vinny deMacedo advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vinny deMacedo | 100.0 | 10,874 |
| Total votes: 10,874 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Deborah Rudolf completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rudolf's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Health Care for All, Equity for women, Creating opportunities for all to be successful and be able to live in their home communities in a sustainable manner.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Health care for all is a top priority for me. I have seen the deep struggle of families to coping with illness and injury while wondering how they will maintain their jobs, keep their homes going, provide for their families, and keep their health insurance.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Audre Lorde.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Compassion, Integrity, Hard-working,
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To look to the public welfare as the top priority in all matters.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The election of John F. Kennedy Jr. as President. I was 8 years old.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Newspaper route and babysitting as a kid. First job with payroll taxes withheld: Summer farm work on tobacco farms.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes, previous experience in government or politics would be beneficial for legislators, but not a definitive requirement. Dedication to public service, experience in leadership, ability to work with people with diverse perspectives and values, and demonstrated attitude of respect, dignity, and regard for our common humanity and commitment to improve the common good are the top qualities everyone who aspires to be a legislator should have.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Building relationships with other legislators is not only beneficial, it is the critical core of building a civil society where the legislators can come to understand the needs of of the people and develop solutions that meet those needs.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
A process that is open and transparent to the public.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Senate Committees: Global Warming and Climate Change, Health Care Cost Containment and Reform, Bills in the Third Reading, Ways and Means. Joint Committees: Elder Affairs; Childfren, Families, and Persons with Disabilities; Health Care Financing; Education; Labor and Workforce Development; Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Bella Abzug
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
Government belongs to the people. I am committed to Real Results for Real People.[2] |
” |
| —Deborah Rudolf[1] | ||
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2018
- Massachusetts State Senate
External links
Footnotes
