Laura Ruderman (born November 8, 1970) is a former

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

State Representative for Washington's 45th legislative district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Ruderman graduated from

Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...

Middletown, Connecticut Middletown is a city in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Located along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles (25.749504 km) south of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. Middletown is the largest city in the L ...

Political career

Laura Ruderman represented

Washington's 45th legislative district Washington's 45th legislative district is one of 49 electoral districts in Washington (state), Washington state for representation in the Washington State Legislature, state legislature. It extends from Kirkland, Washington, Kirkland on the west, ...

from 1999 to 2005.Laura Ruderman Running In Washington
''Roll Call'' June 2011 While in office, Ruderman was vice-chair of the Technology, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee, and served on the Health Care, Appropriations, and Rules Committees. In addition to these assignments, she was a member of the K-20 Education Network, the Information Services Board, and the Governor's Task Force on Virtual Learning.Activities as a WA State Representative
LearningCommons.org Ruderman was elected by her colleagues to be the vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Ruderman was named one of "100 to Watch" by the

Democratic Leadership Council The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) was a non-profit 501(c)(4) corporation that was active from 1985 to 2011. Founded and directed by Al From, it argued that the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it had ...

, 2003 Ruderman did not seek re-election in 2004, running instead for Washington State Secretary of State against incumbent Republican Sam Reed; she captured 45% of the vote to Sam Reed's 51%. On March 20, 2012,

Jay Inslee Jay Robert Inslee ( ; born February 9, 1951) is an American politician and lawyer who served from 2013 to 2025 as the 23rd governor of Washington. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2012 as a ...

, representing , resigned from office, which resulted in simultaneous elections, one to fill the seat for the remainder of the term, and one for the next term. Ruderman ran in both elections, but was eliminated in both races in the blanket primary on August 7, and Democrat Suzan DelBene won both elections on November 6.

Personal life

Laura Ruderman's stepson, Jacob B. Greenburg, was arrested and charged with arson and reckless burning during the Seattle riots in September 2020. Laura Ruderman appeared in court on September 29 to vouch for her stepson. After being released on bail Jacob B. Greenburg was arrested again on October 16, 2020, for assaulting a police officer. Video of Greenburg's assault with a metal baseball bat swung at the head of a Seattle Police Department bike officer was widely shared during the riots in Seattle in 2020.

Current activities

Since 2005 Ruderman has worked as a school and community activist and a businesswoman. Since January 2019, Ruderman is CEO of the Technology Alliance.
GeekWire She is or has been active in the following organizations: * Results (organization), RESULTS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished families through legislative action * Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (CASH), a non-profit organization that provides low-income women with credit, business training, and peer support * K-20 Educational Network * Digital Learning Commons * King County Library System Foundation * Sound Mental Health * 21 Acres Ruderman has been a member of the Redmond Chapter of Business and Professional Women, and in 2010 was elected co-chair at Discovery Community School in the

Lake Washington School District The Lake Washington School District #414 or LWSD is a public education, public school district in King County, Washington, in suburbs east of Seattle. Its headquarters is in Redmond, Washington, Redmond. it is the second-largest school distric ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruderman, Laura Living people Wesleyan University alumni Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Women in Washington (state) politics 1970 births 21st-century American women politicians Women state legislators in Washington (state) People from King County, Washington 21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature