Ruth Ann Gaines

Ruth Ann Gaines
91st General Assembly portrait (2025)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2011
Preceded byWayne Ford
ConstituencyDistrict 33 (2023-Present)
District 32 (2013-2023)
District 65 (2011-2013)
Personal details
Born1947 (age 78–79)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Children1
EducationClarke College (BA)
University of California, Santa Barbara (MA)
OccupationEducator, politician
WebsiteRepresentative Gaines

Ruth Ann Gaines (born 1947) is the Iowa State Representative from the 33rd District. A Democrat, she has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2011.

Gaines will retire from the Iowa House at the end of the 2026 Legislative session and gave her retirement speech to the Iowa House of Representatives on April 6.[1]

Early life and education

Gaines was born in 1947 in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1965, she graduated from St. Joseph Academy. She received a B.A. in drama/speech from Clarke College in 1969 and an M.A. in dramatic art from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1970.[2][3]

Shortly after graduation, Gaines worked as a drama teacher at East High School in Des Moines and also taught speech and drama at Des Moines Area Community College. Gaines was active in theater as an actress, playwright, and director, and was involved in more than 200 plays.[4] She spearheaded diversity and equity programs including Sisters for Success, a mentorship program for African American high school girls, and Voices of Change, a student performing group focused on cultural diversity and teen issues.

Gaines was named Iowa Teacher of the Year in 1998 and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2003.[5]

Political career

Ruth Ann Gaines has been a member of the Iowa state house since January 2011, initially representing the 65th District. After redistricting, she represented the 32nd from 2013 to 2023, and the 33rd beginning in 2023. She is a founding member of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus and has focused on education, diversity, disability rights, and mental health care. In her eight and final legislative term, Gaines currently serves on four committees: Economic Growth and Technology, Environmental Protection, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations. She was formerly the ranking member of the Ethics committee.[6]

Legacy

The auditorium at East High School in Des Moines was named after Gaines.[7]

Electoral history

*incumbent

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010  [8]
District 65 		Democratic Ruth Ann Gaines Democraticunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2010  [9]
District 65
Turnout: 7,712		Democratic hold Ruth Ann Gaines Democratic4,88763.37%
Gary L. Jordan Republican2,35830.58%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012  [10]
District 32 		Democratic Ruth Ann Gaines* Democraticunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2012  [11]
District 32
Turnout: 11,880		Democratic (newly redistricted) Ruth Ann Gaines* Democratic8,07367.95%
Joe Corbin Republican3,10926.17%

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa politics: State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines won't seek reelection next year". Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Representative Ruth Ann Gaines". Iowa House of Representatives. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Meeting Challenges With Faith and Fortitude". dsm Magazine. February 27, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Meeting Challenges With Faith and Fortitude". dsm magazine. February 27, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ruth Gaines". National Teachers Hall of Fame. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Iowa Legislative Services Agency. "State Representative". legis.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ Sitter, Phillip. "'A fitting tribute': Des Moines' East High School auditorium named after Iowa Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Official Results Report, 2010 Primary Election held Tuesday, June 8th 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Official Results Report, General Election held Tuesday, November 2nd 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 23, 2010. p. 106. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ "2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 123. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  11. ↑ "2012 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 78. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
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