Ruiz, Raul

Raul Ruiz is a Democratic representative serving California's 25th Congressional District, which includes Imperial County, the Eastern Coachella Valley, and cities such as Hemet, Indio, and Banning. He was first elected to Congress in 2012, initially representing the 36th District before redistricting moved him to the 25th District in 2023. He currently serves his second full term, with his current term ending in January 2027.

Ruiz brings a distinctive professional background to Congress as a physician. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, he was adopted and raised in Coachella, California by his adoptive aunt. He earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA and became the first Latino to receive three graduate degrees from Harvard University: a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School, a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Before entering Congress, he worked as an emergency physician at Eisenhower Medical Center and served as a Senior Associate Dean at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. He also founded the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative and provided humanitarian assistance following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, earning a Commander's Award for Public Service from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

In Congress, Ruiz serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he sits on the Subcommittees on Health, Environment, and Communications and Technology. His legislative priorities reflect his medical background and district interests, with his sponsored bills focusing primarily on health care, armed forces and national security, Native American affairs, environmental protection, and natural resources. Notable legislation includes the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act, the Vote Without Fear Act, and the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act. He has also championed clean energy initiatives, particularly highlighting lithium extraction opportunities at the Salton Sea to support domestic battery manufacturing and electric vehicle production.

As the only Democratic physician on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ruiz has advocated for affordable healthcare access, health equity, environmental justice, and expanded physician training programs. His work reflects his commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and supporting underserved communities, drawing on his experience as an emergency medicine physician serving vulnerable populations.