Teresa Ruiz (New Jersey)
2008 - Present
2028
17
Teresa Ruiz (Democratic Party) is a member of the New Jersey State Senate, representing District 29. She assumed office in 2008. Her current term ends on January 11, 2028.
Ruiz (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the New Jersey State Senate to represent District 29. She won in the general election on November 7, 2023.
Ruiz served as state Senate president pro tempore from January 2018 to January 2022, when she became State Senate Majority Leader.[1][2]
Biography
Ruiz earned her B.A. in English from Drew University.[3] Her professional experience includes working as a preschool teacher and as deputy chief of staff for Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.[4]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Ruiz was assigned to the following committees:
- Budget and Appropriations Committee
- Legislative Oversight Committee, Vice Chair
- Joint Budget Oversight Committee
- Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opp Committee
2020-2021
Ruiz was assigned to the following committees:
- Budget and Appropriations Committee
- Senate Education Committee, Chair
- Senate Higher Education Committee
2019-2020
Ruiz was assigned to the following committees:
- Budget and Appropriations Committee
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Senate Education Committee, Chair
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ruiz served on the following committees:
| New Jersey committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Public Schools |
| • Budget and Appropriations |
| • Legislative Oversight |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Ruiz served on the following committees:
| New Jersey committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Budget and Appropriations |
| • Legislative Oversight |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Ruiz served on the following committees:
| New Jersey committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Education, Vice-Chair |
| • Public Schools |
| • Budget and Appropriations |
| • Budget and Appropriations (Budget Hearings Only) |
| • Economic Growth |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2023
See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for New Jersey State Senate District 29
Incumbent Teresa Ruiz defeated Maritza Mathews and Pablo Olivera in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 29 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Teresa Ruiz (D) | 83.5 | 7,766 |
| Maritza Mathews (R) | 14.5 | 1,351 | ||
 | Pablo Olivera (Labour Party) | 1.9 | 181 | |
| Total votes: 9,298 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 29
Incumbent Teresa Ruiz advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 29 on June 6, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Teresa Ruiz | 100.0 | 4,127 |
| Total votes: 4,127 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 29
Maritza Mathews advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 29 on June 6, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Maritza Mathews | 100.0 | 256 | |
| Total votes: 256 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ruiz in this election.
2021
See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021
General election
General election for New Jersey State Senate District 29
Incumbent Teresa Ruiz won election in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 29 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Teresa Ruiz (D) | 100.0 | 20,706 |
| Total votes: 20,706 | |||
| = 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 New Jersey State Senate District 29
Incumbent Teresa Ruiz advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 29 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Teresa Ruiz | 100.0 | 6,289 |
| Total votes: 6,289 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2017
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2017
General election
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2017. All 40 seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017.[5][6] Incumbent Teresa Ruiz (D) defeated Maria Lopez (R) and Pablo Olivera (One Nation Party) in the New Jersey State Senate District 29 general election.[7][8]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 29 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Teresa Ruiz Incumbent |
87.25% | 20,506 | |
| Republican | Maria Lopez | 10.84% | 2,547 | |
| One Nation Party | Pablo Olivera | 1.91% | 449 | |
| Total Votes | 23,502 | |||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||||
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Teresa Ruiz ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 29 Democratic primary election.[9]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 29 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Teresa Ruiz Incumbent | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
Republican primary election
Maria Lopez ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 29 Republican primary election.[9]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 29 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Maria Lopez | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
2013
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
Ruiz won re-election in the 2013 election for New Jersey State Senate District 29. Ruiz was unopposed in the June 4 Democratic primary and defeated Raafat Barsoom (R) and Pablo Olivera (I) in the general election on November 5, 2013.[10][11][12][13]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 29 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Teresa Ruiz Incumbent |
78.3% | 16,078 | |
| Republican | Raafat Barsoom | 17.7% | 3,636 | |
| Independent | Pablo Olivera | 3.9% | 808 | |
| Total Votes | 20,522 | |||
2011
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011
Ruiz won re-election to the District 29 State Senate seat in 2011. She ran unopposed for the June 7 Democratic primary election. Ruiz defeated Aracelis Sanabria Tejada (R) and Laurie Taylor (I) in the general election, which took place on November 8, 2011.[14]
| New Jersey State Senate District 29 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Teresa Ruiz Incumbent |
82.2% | 9,076 | |
| Republican | Aracelis Sanabria Tejada | 14.5% | 1,598 | |
| Independent | Laurie Taylor | 3.3% | 363 | |
| Total Votes | 11,037 | |||
2007
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007
In 2007, Ruiz was elected to the New Jersey State Senate District 29. Ruiz (D) finished with 10,816 votes and was followed by Luis Quintana with 3,687 votes, William Payne (I) with 3,653 votes, Al-Samar Douglas (R) with 547 votes, Dick Hester with 123 votes, and Sara Lobman with 96 votes. Ruiz raised $284,879 for her campaign fund.[15]
| New Jersey Senate 2007 General Election, District 29 (2007) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Teresa Ruiz (D)
|
10,816 | |||
| Luis Quintana (Other) | 3,687 | |||
| William Payne (I) | 3,653 | |||
| Al-Samar Douglas (R) | 547 | |||
| Dick Hester (Pro-Life Conservative Veteran) | 123 | |||
| Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers) | 96 | |||
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Teresa Ruiz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Teresa Ruiz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New Jersey scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9 to December 19. |
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 10 to January 8.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 11 to December 31. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 4 to January 11.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 14 to December 17.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9, 2018, through January 14, 2020.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2019.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 10 through January 9, 2018.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 12 through January 10, 2017.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 216th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 13 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 216th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 14 through January 12, 2015.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 215th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 10 to January 13, 2014.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 215th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 10 to January 9, 2013.
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Endorsements
2013
In 2013, Ruiz’s endorsements included the following:[16]
- The New Jersey AFL-CIO
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ruiz and her husband, Samuel, reside in Newark, New Jersey.
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Insider NJ, "Sweeney Announces Senate Committee Assignments," January 9, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Legislative Leadership," accessed January 12, 2022
- ↑ New Jersey State Legislature, "Biography of Teresa Ruiz," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Primary Election Timeline," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, "Official List, Candidate for State Senate for Primary Election, June 6, 2017," accessed April 13, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Candidates for State Senate for General Election 11/07/2017 Election," accessed September 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2017 official general election results," accessed November 30, 2017
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Results: State Senate," accessed July 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Election Results," accessed July 26, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Official general election candidates," September 9, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "New Jersey - Summary Vote Results," November 6, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2013 Official General Election results," accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2011 Official State Senate Primary Candidate List," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "New Jersey State Senate 2007 general election results," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ PolitickerNJ.com, "AFL-CIO endorses candidates for elections," accessed September 4, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New Jersey State Senate District 29 2008-Present |
Succeeded by - |
