Rudy Soto

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Rudy Soto

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Portland State University, 2011

Military

Years of service

2008 - 2018

Personal

Birthplace

Nampa, ID

Religion

Christian: Nondenominational

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Rudy Soto (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Idaho's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Soto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rudy Soto was born in Nampa, Idaho. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Portland State University in June 2011. Soto served in the United States Army from August 2008 to February 2018. His professional experience includes working at national non-profit organizations and as a former congressional staffer. He also participated in the American Political Science Association's Congressional Fellowship Program, which he completed in 2014. He received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development's "Native American 40 Under 40" award. As of 2020, Soto was involved with HillVets.

Elections

2020

See also: Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2020

Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)

Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (June 2 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Idaho District 1

Incumbent Russ Fulcher defeated Rudy Soto, Joe Evans, and Pro-Life in the general election for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Russ Fulcher (R)	67.8	310,736
		Rudy Soto (D)	28.6	131,380
		Joe Evans (L)	3.6	16,453
		Pro-Life (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	7

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 458,576
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1

Rudy Soto defeated Staniela Nikolova in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rudy Soto	65.8	25,112
		Staniela Nikolova	34.2	13,074

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,186
= 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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Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1

Incumbent Russ Fulcher defeated Nicholas Jones in the Republican primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Russ Fulcher	79.9	93,879
		Nicholas Jones	20.1	23,654

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 117,533
= 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

Candidate Conversations

Click below to watch the conversation for this race.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rudy Soto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Soto's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Nampa, Idaho, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the son of a Mexican immigrant. My family struggled and, like too many kids living in poverty, I ended up in juvenile corrections. But, overcoming some impossible odds, I was fortunate enough to turn things around. I became the first in my family to graduate from college, enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard, and served as a congressional staffer and legislative director in Washington, D.C.

My career has been dedicated to public service as demonstrated by my time in the military, government, and work with national non-profit organizations in the fields of child welfare, health policy, and economic development. All of the positions I have held make me well rounded when it comes to problem solving and thinking through the different layers and consequences of policy making and implementation. I understand the needs for balancing the input and acquiring the perspectives of opposing interests and stakeholders. My previous roles provide me with training and tools for tracking down important information, relationship networks, and best practices from which I can draw support.

I'm running for working families like my own, people struggling to make ends meet and get a fair shot at the American dream. I'm running to represent people like my dad, who lost his health insurance when he lost his job, and died from cancer without the right treatment in time.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I believe healthcare is a human right and that the federal government should move towards affordable universal healthcare coverage. I see this as achievable through a mixed public/private system approach to strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through the establishment of a public option for those who are not poor to the point of qualifying for Medicaid, old enough for Medicare, or enrolled in employer sponsored coverage.
• Our nation and our state's infrastructure is lacking, aging, and in some cases literally crumbling. I know full well many of the shortcomings and needs that exist in rural Idaho and reservation communities. I also know the incredible value of modern public transit and connected, walkable neighborhoods: I grew up without either and have seen their incredible value living in cities as an adult. I support federal funding to rebuild and repair our nation's infrastructure, and I think shovel-ready projects can be part of our plan to rescue the economy. We also need to fund rural broadband development to bring opportunity and information to every corner of our nation. And we need renewable, clean energy projects to create 21st century jobs.
• We need to ensure that K-12 schools, career and technical education programs, and colleges and universities receive adequate resources from the federal government to prepare students for the workforce and for their lives. I also support investments in broadband to make sure students in rural and reservation communities are not left behind. I have student loan debt and have participated in forgiveness programs in the military and government: I want to increase and expand student loan forgiveness options for everyone especially those willing to participate in military, national, and public service programs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As we have learned in this global pandemic, your health is tied to my health is tied to my neighbor's health...we are all connected, and it is in everyone's best interest to ensure that every American has access to healthcare. This is an issue close to my heart. I'm running for people like my dad, for all the people who are one illness away from losing everything, including their life.

I'm ready to hit the ground running: I worked on outreach and education for the Affordable Care Act and as a health policy analyst. I want to work towards affordable universal healthcare coverage, beginning with a public option for everyone without insurance. I want to work across the aisle to bring down prescription drug prices, address the opioid epidemic, and expand mental health and telehealth services.

Every year in this country, thousands of families experience what my family did and millions of Americans are losing their employer sponsored healthcare insurance since being laid off of work. I want that to make sure they have access to healthcare.

Another issue that is pressing to me is immigration: I have lived and seen firsthand every side of this issue. My dad was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico and half of my entire family are all first-generation immigrants. I was also sent to help protect the US/Mexico Border as a National Guardsman in 2014. And I know that our system needs comprehensive immigration reform. We need pathways to achieve legal status and citizenship.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

John F. Kennedy has long been my political icon and hero. I love that he came from a background of immense wealth and privilege and yet was such an outspoken advocate for poor and underprivileged communities. Even though he had serious health issues that should have prevented him from fighting in World War II, he still insisted on serving in the military and ended up becoming a war hero.

Kennedy was a compelling and charismatic leader who brought heightened levels of interest to politics and government through his true passion for serving his country, his dynamic speeches and personal style. As President, Kennedy famously called on Americans to think of what they can do to help others, take on incredible challenges, and make sacrifices for the greater good. I admire his willingness to exude moral courage and political conviction.

I seek to model my pursuit of public service after his example by having my north stars be focused on channeling authenticity, directness, and bravery. These virtues are sorely lacking in many of our political leaders of the moment and it would be a privilege and honor to help restore them.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My Idaho upbringing makes me deeply patriotic and that will serve me well as an office holder because I will be up to the task of putting country before partisan politics. I also carry qualities and characteristics that are ingrained in me through my DNA - culture and time in the military. From my Shoshone-Bannock heritage I possess a warrior spirit and a strong sense of intergenerational resiliency to persevere and overcome adversity. I'm also a descendant of immigrants and those roots are where I draw my intense work ethic and drive to pursue my dreams.

My experience as a soldier in the Army came with an obligation to uphold an ethos and core values system. The seven values I was taught to live by are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honesty, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Loyalty is about bearing true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and my constituents above all. Duty is fulfilling my responsibilities. Respect is treating others with dignity and decency. Selfless Service is putting my country and constituents interests before my own. Honor is acting consistently in accordance with these values. Integrity is doing what is right legally and morally. Personal Courage is facing fear and standing up regardless of risks.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Members of Congress are constitutionally responsible for: making laws; raising revenue, authorizing & appropriating federal funds, and managing the federal debt; providing for the common defense; providing for the general welfare; regulating commerce among the states and with foreign nations; establishing the federal court system and defining federal crimes; declaring war and maintaining and regulating the military; and directing a Census every ten years.

U.S. Representatives must serve their constituents by promoting their interests through public policy in a balanced, engaged, and informed way. They have to provide a variety of direct constituent services and assistance related to navigating federal bureaucracies, resolving conflicts, and advancing opportunities for organizations, local governments, and businesses located within their district.

In their legislative role, U.S. Representatives are tasked with making public policy choices that are focused on protecting and furthering the interests of their constituents and country. In keeping with their constitutional duties, Members also must exercise oversight and investigations of public and private sector entities to ensure transparency and accountability.

A Member of Congress is responsible for establishing, managing, and operating in-district offices with the support of staff as well as one office on Capitol Hill. An effective Member must be able to build and maintain relationships within their party and across the political aisle that will help them fulfill their pledges to constituents. It is commonplace for Members to form a large swath of alliances through joining caucuses, coalitions, and involving stakeholders such as constituents, agencies, organizations, and associations to pursue policy priorities. All of these aspects of serving as a U.S. Representative are integral to upholding and exercising Congress' representative based decision making role and promoting our national values.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. It's a book that I credit with making me fall in love with reading and helping me open up my mind to imagine becoming the author of my own destiny. The book is an international bestseller about two men both born on the same day on opposite sides of the world, one from poverty and extreme hardship and the other from immense wealth and privilege that comes with its own unique challenges. The novel is a historical fiction which follows these characters over decades and generations, through war, marriage, good fortune, and disaster. These deeply ambitious fellows are brought face to face multiple times through interesting twists of fate and stunning circumstances.

I enjoyed the book because of its suspenseful nature as well as the window it provided into the struggles that can follow all people. Reading Kane and Abel is an enlightening, inspiring, and deeply humanizing experience.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, I do believe that it is beneficial for representatives to have some experience in government or politics prior to assuming a role in government because it gives them a more keen sense and understanding of the culture and system they are seeking to serve in. If a representative is to be effective, they must certainly have a background in much more than just politics or government but it is immensely helpful to have experience in navigating the dynamics of a policy making body such as a federal or state legislature instead of entirely being reliant upon others for guidance.

Representatives with previous experience in politics and government who have an existing framework of reference are much more likely to be constructive policy makers who can obtain enough support and consensus to push legislation and policy priorities forward in a meaningful way. They would have a better grasp on procedures and technical aspects of issues that may need to account for additional time to obtain input and feedback from stakeholders in order to build support or mitigate opposition from potential critics.

The most important and beneficial aspect of being a representative with prior government experience is the network of relationships they have to tap into and can utilize as a resource in circumstances when policy development is fast moving. Moreover, it can be most helpful if they have relationships across the political aisle so that if one's own party is not in power in the legislative body or chamber, they have colleagues who will see the value in collaborating with them for the sake of their shared political interests, regional priorities, and for the country.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

No issue is more urgent than the climate crisis that is rapidly increasing in front of us this very moment.

Just 100 years ago there were under 2 billion people worldwide and gas fueled cars were just becoming mass produced. Now there are well over 7 billion people on the planet with more cars, planes, buses and trains than we all can ever begin to imagine. That level of growth combined with our advanced standards of living with the needs for homes, schools, buildings not to mention consumption of everything else such as food, water, and waste puts us in a place where that exerts an extreme strain on the earth, animals, and the environment.


We need to take urgent action to preserve our way of life not just for future generations, but for the present to be sustainable for the next five to ten years. We are seeing farmlands disappearing, public lands under threat, fish such as salmon almost facing extinction. People who live off of hunting and fishing are finding it harder and those surviving off of subsistence lifestyles are struggling to cope.

Over the last 3.5 years, our country has taken giant leaps backwards by moving away from the Paris Climate Agreement, loosening regulations that would have limited the amount of carbon emissions from coal and gas-fired plants, cars and trucks, and is reversing EPA rules that provided accountability for the fossil fuel industry, and rules governing clean air, water, and toxic chemicals. Simultaneously, once protected public lands are being opened up to allow for explorations for gas and oil. These actions will lead to an increase in greenhouse emissions, further exacerbating this crisis.

We need to adopt sustainable approaches to growth that include protecting public lands, furthering conservation, preserving ecosystems and animal species. We need to transition to renewable sources of energy, the kind of energy that will power not just our country but an entire industry of good-paying 21st century jobs.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I very much admire the life story and rise of Lyndon B. Johnson. In 2016, I visited the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas which serves as a tribute to his legacy and I learned things about his background that really resonated with me. President Johnson grew up in rural poverty and developed a deep sense of compassion for folks that come from disadvantaged circumstances partially as a result of experiences he had as a teacher of students from Mexican descent. I enjoyed reading about him pushing those long-neglected youth and giving them hope and pride in their abilities.

Johnson was elected to Congress at an early age and sought to increase federal funding and resources for his district. I recall reading that one of his proudest achievements was bringing back electrical power to rural towns in Texas. It would be an honor to do the same by working to empower voters and increase broadband access in rural and reservation communities in Idaho.

As a brother to two siblings with disabilities, siblings with spina bifida who use wheelchairs, Johnson's Great Society Campaign that brought the passage of sweeping legislation and programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are extremely meaningful to me. The passage of this law transformed the healthcare landscape to provide coverage to the most vulnerable, primarily seniors and people with disabilities. The Great Society legislation President Johnson signed into law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, paved the way for more people of color to be elected to office and these laws are what makes it possible for me to even be a candidate for Congress.

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Footnotes

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Idaho's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Mike Crapo (R)

Jim Risch (R)

Representatives

District 1

Russ Fulcher (R)

District 2

Michael Simpson (R)

Republican Party (4)