Ruth Ann Gaines
Iowa State Representative, District 33 since 2010. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 9 elections between 2010 and 2024, winning 9.
- In office
- 16 yrs
- Since 2010
- Bills became law
- 0
- 21 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 56.3%
- Chamber median 3.8%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +51.9
- Won 2024
- Elections
- 9
- 2010–2024
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Economic Growth and Technology
- Environmental Protection
- International Relations
- Local Government
- Veterans Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Gaines sits in the Iowa House of Representatives
Gaines is closer to the center than 21% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Jerome Amos, Ross Wilburn, Mary Madison
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Gaines’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Gaines’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Gaines | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2542: A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 66–20 |
| May 2, 2026 | SF 2490: A bill for an act relating to oil and gas production, including filing requirements, the… | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 65–21 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2771: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government… | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 66–18 |
| May 2, 2026 | SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial… | No | No | Yes | Passed 62–22 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | SF 2218: A bill for an act relating to state regulatory compliance and eligibility requirements,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 71–20 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Gaines was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 33 | Won | D+51.9 | D+25.1 | +26.8 |
| 2022 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 33 | Won | — | D+34.0 | — |
| 2020 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 | Won | D+43.4 | — | — |
| 2016 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 | Won | D+40.0 | — | — |
| 2014 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 | Won | D+44.3 | — | — |
| 2010 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 65 | Won | D+34.8 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Gaines has held
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 33 · since 2022
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 32 · since 2012
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 65 · since 2010
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Gaines has run against
- Toya S. Johnson (L) · 2024 election, won
- William M. Charlier (R) · 2018 election, won
- Joe Corbin (R) · 2012 election, won
- Gary L. Jordan (R) · 2010 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Gaines
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/dad6bcf1-d56a-4a10-a969-2980dd3582d8
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET