Raul Ruiz

Overview

Rep. Raul Ruiz of California has compiled a voting record across 544 recorded votes that reflects a center-left approach to legislation. As an emergency medicine physician by training, his record shows particular engagement on healthcare legislation, where he has cast 64 votes — the most of any policy-specific category. His voting patterns suggest he prioritizes veterans' care, infrastructure investment, and foreign policy engagement, while frequently opposing Republican-led budget proposals and certain energy and environmental deregulation measures. On defense and foreign policy, Ruiz has supported legislation at notably high rates — voting in favor 75% and 91% of the time, respectively — including backing veterans' benefits and invoking the War Powers Resolution regarding U.S. military involvement in Lebanon. His healthcare votes show a more mixed pattern at 56% in favor, reflecting a combination of support for expanding access and opposition to measures he views as weakening existing programs like Medicaid. Ruiz's record on fiscal matters shows clear opposition to majority-party budget frameworks, voting against 77% of budget-related measures, while supporting most taxation and infrastructure bills that came to a vote. On immigration and criminal justice, he has voted against the majority of proposals in those categories, suggesting disagreement with the specific approaches brought to the floor rather than a blanket stance on those issues. Overall, Ruiz's record is consistent with a pragmatic, moderate Democrat who supports bipartisan measures in areas like defense, infrastructure, and labor, while holding firm with his party on healthcare protections, environmental regulation, and fiscal policy.

Key Positions

• •Consistently supported veterans' legislation, including voting for the Take Care of America's Veterans Act in July 2026.
• •Voted to invoke the War Powers Resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from Lebanon on multiple occasions, indicating support for congressional oversight of military deployments.
• •Opposed the fiscal year 2027 congressional budget resolution and continuing appropriations measures, voting against the majority party's spending framework.
• •Voted against a congressional resolution disapproving EPA rules related to California's nonroad engine pollution standards, supporting the state's authority to set its own environmental regulations.
• •Supported the Ratepayer Protection Act and Water Resources Development Act, showing selective support for energy and water legislation.
• •Voted in favor of the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act motion to recommit and the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act motion to recommit, signaling efforts to amend healthcare legislation.
• •Supported infrastructure and labor bills at high rates (80% each), indicating consistent backing for public works investment and worker protections.
• •Voted for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act, reflecting support for consumer protection and fraud prevention measures.