Congressman Raul Ruiz Glides To November Runoff

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Ballot counting for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election continues in Riverside County. With only 3,000 ballots left to tally, however, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio) declared victory Thursday in California’s 25th Congressional District.

In the November 5 Presidential Election runoff, 51-year-old Ruiz will likely face Republican challenger Ian Weeks. As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Weeks garnered 16,859 votes, or 20.74% of ballots counted in the district. He is ahead of Republican Ceci "Cecilia" Truman, who had 14,517 votes, or 17.86%.

The two GOP contenders trailed Ruiz by wide margins. The incumbent garnered 38,592 votes or 47.48% of ballots counted in the district. He won more than 82% of the votes cast for Democratic candidates.

"I’m proud to have won the primary by such a large margin, and I’m especially proud that I won such a large majority of votes cast for Democratic candidates," Ruiz said. "The November election will be a referendum on how we want to move forward as a nation. I’ve shown that I am committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare, reducing health care costs, growing our economy in a way that creates opportunity for all, and protecting women’s personal freedom.

"I’ve also shown that it really is possible for an elected official to collaborate in a bipartisan manner to get things done, like making sure veterans receive the benefits and health care they need, revitalizing the Salton Sea, and helping constituents cut red tape. I look forward to the November election, and with the support of the voters, to continuing to serve as their advocate in Congress."

Ruiz has served the Coachella Valley and Pass Area since first running for and winning a U.S. House of Representatives seat in 2012. He has since won five reelections and continues to garner strong support from local Democrats.

Jim Mercado, president of the Pass Democratic Club, said in a released statement, "We, the club, gave everything we had to help elect Dr. Ruiz when he first ran for Congress, and to this day we are very proud of that fact! I voted for Dr. Ruiz because he has never forgotten us; he has always left us inspired, motivated, and appreciative of all the work that he has accomplished, and he’s truly been our voice in D.C. His decisive victory in the Primary reflects the adoration Democrats in the Pass area and throughout the District have for our Congressman.”

Elle Kurpiewski, long-time Democratic activist and political director of the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, said Ruiz works for the people.

"The Congressman supports his constituents and he's proven that in his time in Congress," according to Kurpiewski. "The man cares deeply about people, and it shows every day in the work that he does."

Born in Mexico, Ruiz grew up in the Coachella Valley. He obtained three graduate degrees from Harvard University, attending Harvard Medical School, the John F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard School of Public Health. After becoming a medical doctor, Ruiz worked as an emergency physician at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

The 25th Congressional District includes all of Imperial County, and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Cities include Cathedral City, Indio, Coachella, El Centro, Calexico, San Jacinto, Hemet and Needles.