Dr. Raul Ruiz, a Harvard-educated emergency room physician, is the Democrat running for Congress in California’s 36th congressional district. He has an excellent shot at unseating the long-time Republican incumbent, Mary Bono Mack, who appears to be a Boehner/Cantor/Ryan acolyte – the front page of her website says “Repeal and Replace Obamacare,” which is pretty much all you need to know.
I had the good fortune to meet Dr. Ruiz on his recent trip to Boston (full disclosure here: Dr. Ruiz was a student of my father’s at Harvard Medical School). He’s an energetic and charismatic guy who strongly believes in progressive values. He would be a fine addition to the Congress.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has selected this race as one of their targeted “Red to Blue” races, i.e., races in which there is an especially good chance of a Democratic pickup. Part of the reason, no doubt, is that Ruiz is a fine candidate; another is that California’s 2010 redistricting has changed the makeup of the district in Ruiz’s favor.
Ruiz has a remarkable life story which this CNN story tells in brief:
And, after the event at which I met him, he recorded this brief greeting just for you:
Ruiz is looking to finish this fundraising quarter strongly. Why not help him out?
Let’s Repeal and Replace Ms. Bono Mack & re-elect Sen. Bill Nelson. Then she and Mr. Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV can become lobbyists together.
I tried a similar posts a few weeks ago elevating Heidi Heitkamp, Sherrod Brown, and Tammy Baldwin. It also looks like Richard Carmona could have a serious shot as well. Dr. Ruiz is yet another great progressive Democrat fighting the good fight. Money and manpower should flow their way, these Democrats will not only protect our Senate majority and possible cause a House majority but they are solid progressives that will advance their party.