John Ruckelshaus for State Senate

A Lifelong Hoosier

John Ruckelshaus is a lifelong Hoosier who was born and raised in Indianapolis. A graduate of Pike High School and Indiana University, John spent years as a small businessman in the lumber industry. He later brought that real-world experience to state government, serving as a deputy commissioner at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development under Governor Mitch Daniels. Those experiences taught John that the best results come from listening to people, bringing different sides together, and focusing on practical solutions instead of partisan conflict.

John and his wife, Mary, raised their three children, Drew, Maggie, and Jay, in Indianapolis and Carmel. Their experience supporting Jay, who is quadriplegic, has given John a deeply personal understanding of the challenges facing people with disabilities and the families who support them. John and Mary have also been involved with Ramp Less Traveled, the nonprofit Jay founded to help students with spinal cord injuries attend and succeed in college.

A People-First Approach

John’s record as a former Indiana state senator reflects that same people-first approach. He created bipartisan and bicameral town halls that brought Republican and Democratic lawmakers together to answer questions and discuss difficult issues directly with the people they represented. Attendance grew from roughly 50 residents to more than 300, and John credited those conversations with making him a more informed and compassionate senator.

John also created a high school student advisory committee to give young people throughout the district a voice in the legislative process. Members of its first class helped write portions of a bill that ultimately became law. John has said that while the committee was intended to educate students, he believed he learned even more from them. His commitment to respectful, independent leadership earned him the 2018 Civility in Government Award.

An Independent Voice

That independence has continued beyond his time in office. When Indiana faced pressure to redraw its congressional districts in the middle of the decade, John urged lawmakers to reject the effort and called on both parties to respect the integrity of the redistricting process. As he put it, “Both parties need to step back from the political abyss.” John believes voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.

Practical, Bipartisan Results

As a senator, John was willing to take on difficult issues and work across party lines to find practical solutions. Working with legislators from both parties and Indianapolis leaders, he authored legislation that gave local communities a new way to finance flood-control improvements and protect homes and neighborhoods. He coauthored Indiana’s Employment First law, which established competitive, integrated employment as the first and preferred outcome for Hoosiers with disabilities.

John also authored Indiana’s Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights, strengthening protections for survivors, guaranteeing access to advocates during forensic medical examinations and investigations, and requiring survivors to be informed of their rights. The legislation passed the Indiana Senate unanimously and became law.

John brought that same practical, bipartisan approach to one of the biggest affordability challenges facing Hoosier families: the rising cost of health care. He authored legislation to identify the factors driving those increases and develop practical recommendations. The proposal brought Republicans and Democrats together and passed the Indiana Senate unanimously.

Putting People Before Politics

John carries with him a lesson taught by his father to treat everyone with humility, respect, and inclusion. That lesson is reflected in the way he has led. He listens to people, brings different sides together, and stays focused on practical results. John believes public service should put people before politics, strengthen local communities, and hold government accountable to the people it serves.