| Patricia Rucker | |
| State Senate: | West Virginia |
| Alongside: | Jason Barrett |
| District: | 16th |
| Predecessor: | Herb Snyder |
| Party: | Republican |
| Birth Name: | Patricia Elena Puertas |
| Birth Date: | 27 April 1974 |
| Birth Place: | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Alma Mater: | Trinity Washington University (B.A.) |
| Spouse: | James M. Rucker, Jr. |
| Residence: | Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Office1: | Chair of the West Virginia Senate Education Committee |
| Termstart: | December 1, 2016 |
| Predecessor1: | Kenny Mann |
| Successor1: | Amy Grady |
| Termstart1: | January 9, 2019 |
| Termend1: | August 29, 2022 |
| Children: | 5 |
Patricia Rucker (born Patricia Elena Puertas on April 27, 1974, in Caracas) is a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 16th district since January 11, 2017. Rucker served as the chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee from 2019 to 2022.[1]
Rucker was born in Venezuela.[2] The first Hispanic woman to represent West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Rucker emigrated from Venezuela with her parents at the age of 6 and became a U.S. citizen in 2004.[2]
2020: After running unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary, Rucker faced Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty in the November 3, 2020 general election.[3] Rucker beat Dougherty by a slim 52-48% margin to win a second term.[4]
2016: After the retirement of Herb Snyder, Rucker ran for the Republican nomination in the open seat race. Rucker, a teacher and president of We The People of West Virginia and Jefferson County, a local tea-party affiliate, faced attorney and lobbyist Joe Funkhouser in the Republican primary.[5] Rucker beat Funkhouser 56-44% to advance to the November general election.[6] Rucker faced Delegate Stephen Skinner in a rematch of their 2014 House race. Rucker defeated Skinner 53%-47%.