Maria Teresa Ruiz (born June 28, 1974) is an American Democratic Party politician from the state of New Jersey. Ruiz has represented the 29th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since taking office on January 8, 2008. She has served as the Senate Majority Leader since 2022 and is the first Latina to lead either house of the New Jersey Legislature.Johnson, Brent. "Essex County lawmaker set to make history by succeeding Weinberg as Democratic N.J. Senate leader", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 28, 2021. Accessed March 17, 2022. "State Sen. Teresa Ruiz is the choice of top Democrats to take over for retiring Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg when the next legislative session begins in January, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney announced Thursday. That will maker her the first Latina to serve in a top leadership post in either house of the New Jersey Legislature."
Education Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Ruiz graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School."Newark Lifetimes: Jose Linares & Teresa Ruiz", Newark Pulse, September 7, 2016. Accessed March 17, 2022. "New Jersey State Senator Teresa Ruiz was born in Newark, and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School before earning her B.A. in English at Drew University."
In 1998, Ruiz received a B.A. in English from Drew University.
New Jersey Senate With Sharpe James not running for re-election to the Senate seat in the 29th District, Ruiz won the support of Cory Booker and James' son."Sharpe James’ son backs Ruiz for Senate", The New York Observer, March 27, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2022. "A clear sign that Sharpe James has no intention of seeking re-election to a fourth term in the State Senate this year: his son, John Sharpe James, today endorsed Teresa Ruiz for the 29th district Senate seat. Ruiz, who has the backing of James' rival, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, faces Assemblyman William Payne in the June Democratic primary." Ruiz won the June 2007 Democratic primary, running unopposed.Chen, David W. "Voters Send Mixed Signals to Democratic Organization in New Jersey Primaries", The New York Times, June 6, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2022. "One candidate supported by Mr. Booker, M. Teresa Ruiz, ran unopposed in capturing the State Senate nomination for the 29th District. But she will face a stiff challenge in the fall from Assemblyman William D. Payne. He is a member of a powerful family of elected officials whose power runs from Washington to the streets of the Central Ward, and he is running as an independent." In the November 2007 general election, Ruiz and her Assembly running mates Alberto Coutinho and L. Grace Spencer won the three seats from the district. Ruiz won with 57.8% of the vote, defeating five other candidates, including Democrats-running-as independents Luis Quintana (with 15.9%) in second place and William D. Payne (with 15.7%) who came in third.Jacobs, Andrew. "Three Win, With Big Muscle", The New York Times, November 11, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2022. "After the votes were counted on election night, three up-and-comers stood triumphantly on the stage of a gaudy wedding hall here celebrating their victory in state legislative races in the 29th District, which includes most of Newark and the neighboring Township of Hillside.... 'We are making history tonight,' said Ms. Ruiz, who won a six-way race with 57 percent of the vote.... The losers were two stalwarts on Newark’s political landscape: Assemblyman William D. Payne, the brother of United States Representative Donald M. Payne, and Luis Quintana, a Newark City Council member who was once a sure vote-getter among the growing Hispanic electorate."
Ruiz took office in the Senate in January 2008.
Committees Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024. Legislative Oversight (as vice-chair) Budget and Appropriations
District 29 Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022. The representatives from the 29th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:Legislative Roster for District 29, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024. Senator Teresa Ruiz (D) Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D) Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D)
Election history
Awards In January 2025, Ruiz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Montclair State University.
References
External links Senator Ruiz's Legislative Website, New Jersey Legislature New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007