James Ruchti

American attorney and politician
James Ruchti
Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 29th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2022
Preceded byEva Nye
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 29B district
In office
December 1, 2020 – November 30, 2022
Preceded byElaine Smith
Succeeded byNate Roberts
In office
December 1, 2006 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byElmer Martinez
Succeeded byJim Guthrie
Personal details
Born
James Daw Ruchti[1]

Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
University of Idaho (JD)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1993–1998
RankCaptain

James Ruchti is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat, he has served as a member of the Idaho Senate from the 29th district since 2022. He served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2020 to 2022, having previously served from 2006 to 2010.

Early life and education

Ruchti was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1993[1][3] and a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2001.[2]

Career

Ruchti served in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of captain. From 1993 to 1998, he was an officer with the Military Intelligence Corps. Ruchti is a personal injury attorney in Pocatello.

Political career

From 2006 to 2010, he served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the 29th district. He was elected to the seat again in November 2020. He assumed office on December 1, 2020, succeeding Elaine Smith.[2]

Ruchti has written op-ed columns on Idaho politics for the Post Register.[4] In 2022, he chose to run for Idaho Senate instead of reelection to the House of Representatives, and endorsed Democrat Nate Roberts to succeed him.[5][6] He won the November election.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "James Daw Ruchti". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  2. ^ a b c "James Ruchti". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  3. ^ Ruchti, James. "For the sake of Idaho's future, extremists must be stopped". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  4. ^ "Idaho is at a turning point". Post Register. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. ^ Hines, Kalama (2022-10-26). "Two new candidates vying for Idaho House Seat 29B". East Idaho News. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  6. ^ Hines, Kalama (2022-10-29). "Current State Rep. Ruchti one of two options to fill Dist. 29 State Senate seat". East Idaho News. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  7. ^ Finney, Logan (2022-11-10). "2022 ANALYSIS: Nature abhors a power vacuum". Idaho Reports. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Members of the Idaho Senate
President of the Senate
Scott Bedke (R)
President pro tempore
Chuck Winder (R)
Majority Leader
Kelly Anthon (R)
Minority Leader
Melissa Wintrow (D)
  1. ▌Scott Herndon (R)
  2. ▌Phil Hart (R)
  3. ▌Doug Okuniewicz (R)
  4. ▌Ben Toews (R)
  5. ▌Carl Bjerke (R)
  6. ▌Dan Foreman (R)
  7. ▌Cindy Carlson (R)
  8. ▌Geoff Schroeder (R)
  9. ▌Abby Lee (R)
  10. ▌Tammy Nichols (R)
  11. ▌Chris Trakel (R)
  12. ▌Ben Adams (R)
  13. ▌Brian Lenney (R)
  14. ▌C. Scott Grow (R)
  15. ▌Rick Just (D)
  16. ▌Alison Rabe (D)
  17. ▌Carrie Semmelroth (D)
  18. ▌Janie Ward-Engelking (D)
  19. ▌Melissa Wintrow (D)
  20. ▌Chuck Winder (R)
  21. ▌Treg Bernt (R)
  22. ▌Lori Den Hartog (R)
  23. ▌Todd Lakey (R)
  24. ▌Glenneda Zuiderveld (R)
  25. ▌Linda Wright Hartgen (R)
  26. ▌Ron Taylor (D)
  27. ▌Kelly Anthon (R)
  28. ▌Jim Guthrie (R)
  29. ▌James Ruchti (D)
  30. ▌Julie VanOrden (R)
  31. ▌Van Burtenshaw (R)
  32. ▌Kevin Cook (R)
  33. ▌Dave Lent (R)
  34. ▌Doug Ricks (R)
  35. ▌Mark Harris (R)