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{{Short description|American politician and media commentator}}
{{Short description|American politician and media commentator}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Joel Rubin]], an American musician}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Joel Rubin]], an American musician}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Joel Martin Rubin Head-Shot.jpg
| image = Joel Martin Rubin Head-Shot.jpg
| caption = Rubin in 2019
| caption = Rubin in 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|4|8}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|4|8}}
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Nilmini Gunaratne|2003}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Nilmini Gunaratne|2003}}
| children = 3
| children = 3
| alma_mater = [[Brandeis University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Carnegie Mellon University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
| alma_mater = [[Brandeis University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Carnegie Mellon University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
| website = {{url|https://www.rubinformaryland.com/|Campaign website}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.rubinformaryland.com/|Campaign website}}
| office = Member of the [[Chevy Chase (town), Maryland|Chevy Chase]] Town Council
| termend = May 10, 2023
| termstart = May 10, 2017
| preceded = Fred Cecere
| succeeded = Stephanie Martz
| office1 = [[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State]] for [[Bureau of Legislative Affairs|House Affairs]]
| president1 = [[Barack Obama]]
| 1blankname1 = [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary]]
| 1namedata1 = [[John Kerry]]
| termstart1 = May 5, 2014
| termend1 = July 2015
}}
}}
'''Joel Martin Rubin''' (born April 8, 1971) is an American politician and media commentator on domestic political and Middle East affairs. He served as a member of the [[Chevy Chase, Maryland|Chevy Chase]] Town Council from 2017 to 2023, and previously worked as a senior Obama Administration State Department official.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rubin, Joel M.|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/bureau/234900.htm|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> Rubin also was in charge of Jewish outreach for [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bernie Sanders picks former Obama official as liaison to Jewish community in a nod to the establishment|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/01/03/politics/bernie-sanders-picks-former-obama-official-as-liaison-to-the-jewish-community-in-a-nod-to-the-establishment|date=2020-01-03|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Bernie Sanders was on a path to become the first Jewish president. That was everything to Joel Rubin.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/18/bernie-sanders-was-going-be-first-jewish-president-that-was-everything-joel-rubin/|first=Michelle|last= Boorstein |date=2020-03-18|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
'''Joel Martin Rubin''' (born April 8, 1971) is an American politician and media commentator on domestic political and Middle East affairs. He served as a member of the [[Chevy Chase, Maryland|Chevy Chase]] Town Council from 2017 to 2023, and previously worked as a senior [[United States Department of State|State Department]] official in the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rubin, Joel M.|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/bureau/234900.htm|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> In 2020, Rubin also directed Jewish outreach for [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bernie Sanders picks former Obama official as liaison to Jewish community in a nod to the establishment|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/01/03/politics/bernie-sanders-picks-former-obama-official-as-liaison-to-the-jewish-community-in-a-nod-to-the-establishment|date=2020-01-03|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Bernie Sanders was on a path to become the first Jewish president. That was everything to Joel Rubin.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/18/bernie-sanders-was-going-be-first-jewish-president-that-was-everything-joel-rubin/|first=Michelle|last= Boorstein |date=2020-03-18|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

On July 24, 2023, Rubin announced that he would run for Congress in [[Maryland's 6th congressional district]] in [[2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 6|2024]], seeking to succeed outgoing U.S. Representative [[David Trone]].<ref name="MD06">{{cite news |last1=Kornbluh |first1=Jacob |title=Joel Rubin, who worked in Jewish outreach for Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, launches bid for U.S. House seat |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/555207/joel-rubin-jewish-outreach-house-congress/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[The Forward]] |date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Rubin was born on April 8, 1971,<ref>{{cite news |title=State Delegate District 18 (three seats) |url=https://moco360.media/2018/02/13/state-delegate-district-18-three-seats/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=February 13, 2018}}</ref> and raised in a [[Conservative Jewish]] family<ref name=":1" /> in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=District 6 congressional race is developing slowly |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/07/24/district-6-congressional-race-is-developing-slowly/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Maryland Matters]]}}</ref> He attended [[Brandeis University]] for his undergraduate education, where he received a bachelor's degree in politics. He went on to study [[Carnegie Mellon University]]'s [[Heinz College]], where he received an M.S. in public policy and management with a minor in business administration.<ref name="WJW" />
Rubin was born on April 8, 1971,<ref>{{cite news |title=State Delegate District 18 (three seats) |url=https://moco360.media/2018/02/13/state-delegate-district-18-three-seats/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=February 13, 2018}}</ref> and raised in a [[Conservative Jewish]] family<ref name=":1" /> in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=District 6 congressional race is developing slowly |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/07/24/district-6-congressional-race-is-developing-slowly/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Maryland Matters]]}}</ref> He attended [[Brandeis University]] for his undergraduate education, where he received a [[bachelor's degree]] in politics. He went on to study [[Carnegie Mellon University]]'s [[Heinz College]], where he received an [[Master of Science|M.S.]] in public policy and management with a minor in business administration.<ref name="WJW" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
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Rubin served in the [[Peace Corps]] in [[Costa Rica]].<ref name="Benghazi" /> Rubin was the founding Political Director of [[J Street (advocacy group)|J Street]], a liberal organization dedicated to promoting the two state solution and secular left wing values;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melada |first=Geoffrey |date=2015-08-26 |title=Exit interview: Joel Rubin |url=https://washingtonjewishweek.com/24526/exit-interview-joel-rubin/featured-slider-post/ |access-date=2020-05-22 |website=Washington Jewish Week |language=en-US}}</ref> Rubin worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to [[U.S. Senator]]s [[Tom Harkin]] of Iowa and [[Frank Lautenberg]] of New Jersey, both Democrats.<ref name="MD08">{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=Former State Department official joins Maryland congressional race |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/former-state-dept-and-j-street-official-joins-maryland-congressional-race/2015/10/07/b4028e8c-6d2a-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 7, 2015}}</ref>
Rubin served in the [[Peace Corps]] in [[Costa Rica]].<ref name="Benghazi" /> Rubin was the founding Political Director of [[J Street (advocacy group)|J Street]], a liberal organization dedicated to promoting the two state solution and secular left wing values;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melada |first=Geoffrey |date=2015-08-26 |title=Exit interview: Joel Rubin |url=https://washingtonjewishweek.com/24526/exit-interview-joel-rubin/featured-slider-post/ |access-date=2020-05-22 |website=Washington Jewish Week |language=en-US}}</ref> Rubin worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to [[U.S. Senator]]s [[Tom Harkin]] of Iowa and [[Frank Lautenberg]] of New Jersey, both Democrats.<ref name="MD08">{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=Former State Department official joins Maryland congressional race |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/former-state-dept-and-j-street-official-joins-maryland-congressional-race/2015/10/07/b4028e8c-6d2a-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 7, 2015}}</ref>


=== Executive Branch ===
=== Media ===
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Rubin appears as a political commentator on American networks such as [[MSNBC]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search|url=http://www.msnbc.com/search/Joel%20Rubin|website=[[MSNBC]]|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2019-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028191748/http://www.msnbc.com/search/Joel%2520Rubin|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Fox News]]; and on international networks such as i24, [[China Global Television Network]], and [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al-Jazeera]]. He also writes political and national security commentary for [[Axios (website)|Axios]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Rubin|url=https://www.axios.com/authors/JoelRubin|website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> [[The Forward]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Rubin|url=https://forward.com/author/joel-rubin/|website=The Forward|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> [[Washington Jewish Week]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=You searched for Joel Rubin|url=https://washingtonjewishweek.com/search/Joel%20Rubin/|website=Washington Jewish Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> and [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search|url=https://thehill.com/search/query/Joel%20Rubin|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
⚫
Rubin worked for three U.S. government agencies in the administrations of Presidents [[George W. Bush]] and [[Barack Obama]] – the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]], [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]], and [[United States Department of State|State Department]].<ref name=":1" /> In January 2015, when he served in the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] as the [[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State]] for Legislative Affairs in the Obama administration, he was an official government witness and testified to the [[United States House Select Committee on Benghazi|House Select Committee on Benghazi]].<ref name="Benghazi" /> Rubin left the U.S. State Department in July 2015.<ref name="MD08" />


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Rubin has also appeared in Jewish magazines for his political work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bernie Sanders' Jewish outreach chief makes the case for Bernie|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2020/03/16/bernie-%e2%80%a8sanders-jewish-outreach-chief-makes-the-case-for-bernie/|last=Stutman|first=Gabe|date=2020-03-16|website=J.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
=== Post-Obama Administration career ===

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Rubin ran for Congress in [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 8|2016]] in [[Maryland's 8th congressional district]],<ref name="Benghazi">{{Cite news |last=Turque |first=Bill |date=2016-04-04 |title=Middle East peace activist wants to take fight to Republicans in Congress |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/middle-east-peace-activist-wants-to-take-fight-to-republicans-in-congress/2016/04/04/20bd3ca8-d67f-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html |access-date=2020-05-22 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> in what was the most expensive Congressional primary in American history at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=2016-03-05 |title=Maryland House Race a 'Caldron of Power Couples and Washington, D.C., Politics' |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/us/a-clamor-for-a-safe-district-with-a-short-commute.html |access-date=2020-05-22 |issn=0362-4331}}{{subscription required}}</ref> He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing second to last with 1.1 percent of the vote.<ref name="2016p" /> Rubin was elected to the Chevy Chase Town Council in 2017,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |title=Former Congressional Candidate and an Incumbent Run for Chevy Chase Council Seats |url=https://moco360.media/2017/05/01/former-congressional-candidate-and-an-incumbent-run-for-chevy-chase-council-seats/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> and was subsequently re-elected in 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Baskir, Rubin Re-Elected to Chevy Chase Town Council |url=https://moco360.media/2019/05/08/baskir-rubin-re-elected-to-chevy-chase-town-council/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 8, 2019}}</ref> and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=One incumbent, one newcomer elected to Chevy Chase Town Council |url=https://moco360.media/2021/05/14/one-incumbent-one-newcomer-elected-to-chevy-chase-town-council/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>
=== Executive Branch ===
⚫
Rubin worked for three U.S. government agencies in the administrations of Presidents [[George W. Bush]] and [[Barack Obama]] – the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]], [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]], and [[United States Department of State|State Department]].<ref name=":1" /> In January 2015, when he served in the State Department as the [[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State]] for House Affairs in the [[Bureau of Legislative Affairs]], he was an official government witness and testified to the [[United States House Select Committee on Benghazi|House Select Committee on Benghazi]].<ref name="Benghazi" /> Rubin left the U.S. State Department in July 2015.<ref name="MD08" />


== Political involvement ==
Rubin was a founding board member of the [[Jewish Democratic Council of America]], established in 2017 in the wake of the [[Unite the Right rally]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. In 2020, he joined [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign]] as head of Jewish outreach,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and worked as a policy volunteer for the [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden's presidential campaign]] following the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic primaries]].<ref name="WJW" /> From 2020 to 2022, Rubin worked as an executive director for the [[American Jewish Congress]] advocacy group.<ref name="AJC">{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=A New Gig for Joel Rubin |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/10/13/a-new-gig-for-joel-rubin/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Maryland Matters]] |date=October 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="WJW" />
Rubin was a founding board member of the [[Jewish Democratic Council of America]], established in 2017 in the wake of the [[Unite the Right rally]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. In 2020, he joined [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign]] as head of Jewish outreach,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and worked as a policy volunteer for the [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden's presidential campaign]] following the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic primaries]].<ref name="WJW" /> From 2020 to 2022, Rubin worked as an executive director for the [[American Jewish Congress]] advocacy group.<ref name="AJC">{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=A New Gig for Joel Rubin |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/10/13/a-new-gig-for-joel-rubin/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Maryland Matters]] |date=October 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="WJW" />


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Rubin was a surrogate for the [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign]]; an advocate for the Iran nuclear deal as the Policy Director for [[Ploughshares Fund]]; and as a commentator on the [[2012 Benghazi attack]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Following the 2018 [[Pittsburgh synagogue shooting]] at his hometown synagogue, [[Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation]], Joel appeared on Fox News and MSNBC to discuss the attack,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tree of Life member on attack: This is a manmade crisis |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/5854327402001 |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 27, 2018}}</ref> later commenting as well on the rise of [[antisemitism]] in America after the 2019 [[Poway synagogue shooting]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fearnow |first1=Benjamin |title=Fox News Cuts Off Guest Tying Rise in U.S. Anti-Semitism to Trump Rhetoric, Charlottesville |url=https://www.newsweek.com/fox-news-cut-guest-synagogue-anti-semitism-blame-trump-joel-rubin-jewish-1407731 |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> Rubin frequently comments on foreign policy and congressional politics for networks such as [[Fox News]], [[MSNBC]], [[BBC]], [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
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In 2018, Rubin unsuccessfully ran for the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] in District 18, seeking to succeed outgoing state delegates [[Jeff Waldstreicher]] and [[Ana Sol Gutierrez]].<ref name="2018run">{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Town Of Chevy Chase Council Member Joel Rubin To Enter District 18 Delegate Race |url=https://moco360.media/2017/11/09/town-of-chevy-chase-council-member-joel-rubin-to-enter-district-18-delegate-race/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> He received endorsements from the [[National Education Association|Montgomery County Education Association]] and [[NARAL Pro-Choice America|NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland]] during his campaign,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=2018 Endorsements: Candidates for U.S. Congress and Maryland General Assembly |url=https://moco360.media/2018/06/13/2018-endorsements-candidates-for-us-congress-and-maryland-general-assembly/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> but was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 11.2 percent of the vote.<ref name="2018p" /> In 2022, Rubin applied to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 18, seeking to replace state delegate [[Alfred C. Carr Jr.|Al Carr]] on the ballot after Carr withdrew his candidacy hours before the candidate filing deadline on April 15 to run for the county council, and no candidates were able to file to run in his place before the deadline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bohnel |first1=Steve |title=10 candidates make the case for filling District 18 ballot vacancy |url=https://moco360.media/2022/04/19/10-candidates-make-the-case-for-filling-district-18-ballot-vacancy/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated one of its members, [[Aaron Kaufman (politician)|Aaron Kaufman]], to fill vacancy on April 20, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Democratic Central Committee chooses member Aaron Kaufman to fill District 18 vacancy on primary ballot |url=https://moco360.media/2022/04/20/democratic-central-committee-chooses-aaron-kaufman-to-fill-district-18-vacancy-on-primary-ballot/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=April 20, 2022}}</ref>


== Media ==
===Elections===
{{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 8|2018 Maryland House of Delegates election#District 18|2024 Maryland's 6th congressional district election}}
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Rubin appears as a political commentator on American networks such as [[MSNBC]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search|url=http://www.msnbc.com/search/Joel%20Rubin|website=MSNBC|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> and [[Fox News]]; and on international networks such as i24, [[China Global Television Network]], and [[Al Jazeera|Al-Jazeera]]. He also writes political and national security commentary for [[Axios (website)|Axios]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Rubin|url=https://www.axios.com/authors/JoelRubin|website=Axios|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> [[The Forward]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Rubin|url=https://forward.com/author/joel-rubin/|website=The Forward|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> [[Washington Jewish Week]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=You searched for Joel Rubin|url=https://washingtonjewishweek.com/search/Joel%20Rubin/|website=Washington Jewish Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> and [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search|url=https://thehill.com/search/query/Joel%20Rubin|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
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Rubin ran for Congress in [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 8|2016]] in [[Maryland's 8th congressional district]],<ref name="Benghazi">{{Cite news |last=Turque |first=Bill |date=2016-04-04 |title=Middle East peace activist wants to take fight to Republicans in Congress |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/middle-east-peace-activist-wants-to-take-fight-to-republicans-in-congress/2016/04/04/20bd3ca8-d67f-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html |access-date=2020-05-22 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> in what was the most expensive Congressional primary in American history at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=2016-03-05 |title=Maryland House Race a 'Caldron of Power Couples and Washington, D.C., Politics' |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/us/a-clamor-for-a-safe-district-with-a-short-commute.html |access-date=2020-05-22 |issn=0362-4331}}{{subscription required}}</ref> He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing second to last with 1.1 percent of the vote.<ref name="2016p" /> Rubin was elected to the Chevy Chase Town Council in 2017,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |title=Former Congressional Candidate and an Incumbent Run for Chevy Chase Council Seats |url=https://moco360.media/2017/05/01/former-congressional-candidate-and-an-incumbent-run-for-chevy-chase-council-seats/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> and was subsequently re-elected in 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Baskir, Rubin Re-Elected to Chevy Chase Town Council |url=https://moco360.media/2019/05/08/baskir-rubin-re-elected-to-chevy-chase-town-council/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 8, 2019}}</ref> and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=One incumbent, one newcomer elected to Chevy Chase Town Council |url=https://moco360.media/2021/05/14/one-incumbent-one-newcomer-elected-to-chevy-chase-town-council/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>


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In 2018, Rubin unsuccessfully ran for the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] in [[Maryland Legislative District 18|District 18]], seeking to succeed outgoing state delegates [[Jeff Waldstreicher]] and [[Ana Sol Gutierrez]].<ref name="2018run">{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Town Of Chevy Chase Council Member Joel Rubin To Enter District 18 Delegate Race |url=https://moco360.media/2017/11/09/town-of-chevy-chase-council-member-joel-rubin-to-enter-district-18-delegate-race/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> He received endorsements from the [[National Education Association|Montgomery County Education Association]] and [[NARAL Pro-Choice America|NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland]] during his campaign,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=2018 Endorsements: Candidates for U.S. Congress and Maryland General Assembly |url=https://moco360.media/2018/06/13/2018-endorsements-candidates-for-us-congress-and-maryland-general-assembly/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> but was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 11.2 percent of the vote.<ref name="2018p" /> In 2022, Rubin applied to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 18, seeking to replace state delegate [[Alfred C. Carr Jr.|Al Carr]] on the ballot after Carr withdrew his candidacy hours before the candidate filing deadline on April 15 to run for the county council, and no candidates were able to file to run in his place before the deadline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bohnel |first1=Steve |title=10 candidates make the case for filling District 18 ballot vacancy |url=https://moco360.media/2022/04/19/10-candidates-make-the-case-for-filling-district-18-ballot-vacancy/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated one of its members, [[Aaron Kaufman (politician)|Aaron Kaufman]], to fill vacancy on April 20, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Democratic Central Committee chooses member Aaron Kaufman to fill District 18 vacancy on primary ballot |url=https://moco360.media/2022/04/20/democratic-central-committee-chooses-aaron-kaufman-to-fill-district-18-vacancy-on-primary-ballot/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=April 20, 2022}}</ref>
⚫
Rubin was a surrogate for the [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign]]; an advocate for the Iran nuclear deal as the Policy Director for [[Ploughshares Fund]]; and as a commentator on the [[2012 Benghazi attack]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Following the 2018 [[Pittsburgh synagogue shooting]] at his hometown synagogue, [[Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation]], Joel appeared on Fox News and MSNBC to discuss the attack,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tree of Life member on attack: This is a manmade crisis |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/5854327402001 |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 27, 2018}}</ref> later commenting as well on the rise of [[antisemitism]] in America after the 2019 [[Poway synagogue shooting]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fearnow |first1=Benjamin |title=Fox News Cuts Off Guest Tying Rise in U.S. Anti-Semitism to Trump Rhetoric, Charlottesville |url=https://www.newsweek.com/fox-news-cut-guest-synagogue-anti-semitism-blame-trump-joel-rubin-jewish-1407731 |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> Rubin frequently comments on foreign policy & congressional politics for networks such as [[Fox News]], [[MSNBC]], [[BBC]], [[Al Jazeera]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}


On July 24, 2023, Rubin announced that he would run for Congress in [[Maryland's 6th congressional district]] in [[2024 Maryland's 6th congressional district election|2024]], seeking to succeed outgoing U.S. Representative [[David Trone]].<ref name="MD06">{{cite news |last1=Kornbluh |first1=Jacob |title=Joel Rubin, who worked in Jewish outreach for Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, launches bid for U.S. House seat |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/555207/joel-rubin-jewish-outreach-house-congress/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[The Forward]] |date=July 24, 2023}}</ref> During the Democratic primary, he ran on a platform that included national and foreign policy issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Speed dating in District 6: Voters get personal with Democratic congressional candidates |url=https://moco360.media/2023/12/18/speed-dating-in-district-6-voters-get-personal-with-democratic-congressional-candidates/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> Rubin dropped out of the race on March 6, 2024, and endorsed former [[National Telecommunications and Information Administration]] deputy administrator [[April McClain-Delaney]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pagnucco |first1=Adam |title=Rubin Drops Out, Endorses Delaney |url=https://montgomeryperspective.com/2024/03/06/rubin-drops-out-endorses-delaney/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |work=Montgomery Perspective |date=March 6, 2024}}</ref>
⚫
Joel has also appeared in Jewish magazines for his political work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bernie Sanders' Jewish outreach chief makes the case for Bernie|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2020/03/16/bernie-%e2%80%a8sanders-jewish-outreach-chief-makes-the-case-for-bernie/|last=Stutman|first=Gabe|date=2020-03-16|website=J.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>


==Political positions==
==Political positions==
During his tenure at the U.S. State Department, Rubin worked to prevent Congress from passing a resolution of disapproval of the [[Iran Nuclear Deal]] with a veto-proof majority.<ref name="Benghazi" />
During his tenure at the U.S. State Department, Rubin worked to prevent Congress from passing a resolution of disapproval of the [[Iran Nuclear Deal]] with a veto-proof majority.<ref name="Benghazi" />


During his 2016 congressional campaign, Rubin said he opposed the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]], citing concerns over protections for workers at home and abroad.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Local Version Of 'Undercard' Forum Features Three Democrats Seeking Congressional Nod |url=https://moco360.media/2015/11/10/local-version-of-undercard-forum-features-three-democrats-seeking-congressional-nod/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> He also spoke in support of moving funding away from the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] and toward education.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=GOP, Democratic hopefuls in Md. 8th Congressional District make joint appearance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gop-democratic-hopefuls-in-md-8th-congressional-district-make-joint-appearance/2016/01/28/162b7ada-c4fe-11e5-8965-0607e0e265ce_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 28, 2016}}</ref>
During his 2016 congressional campaign, Rubin said he supported raising the federal minimum wage to [[Fight for $15|$15 an hour]], increasing infrastructure spending, and strengthening [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] by removing the cap on [[payroll tax]]es.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mullins |first1=Patti Borda |title=U.S. House race: Rubin says 'inside' government experience is significant |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_2016/u-s-house-race-rubin-says-inside-government-experience-is-significant/article_8972bd0b-7ac8-5a90-90ea-e630a40e4ba7.html |access-date=August 28, 2023 |work=[[Frederick News-Post]] |date=February 25, 2016}}</ref> He also spoke against the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]], citing concerns over protections for workers at home and abroad,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Local Version Of 'Undercard' Forum Features Three Democrats Seeking Congressional Nod |url=https://moco360.media/2015/11/10/local-version-of-undercard-forum-features-three-democrats-seeking-congressional-nod/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> and said he supported moving funding away from the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] and toward education.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=GOP, Democratic hopefuls in Md. 8th Congressional District make joint appearance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gop-democratic-hopefuls-in-md-8th-congressional-district-make-joint-appearance/2016/01/28/162b7ada-c4fe-11e5-8965-0607e0e265ce_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 28, 2016}}</ref>


In October 2017, Rubin voted to approve a $50,000 grant to the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail, a trail group that was suing to prevent the construction of the [[Purple Line (Maryland)|Purple Line]], saying that the companies contracted to build the transit line were not following commitments to ease the impact to the town. The grant was rejected by the Chevy Chase Town Council by a 4-1 vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Metcalf |first1=Andrew |title=Town of Chevy Chase Votes Against Providing Money to Group Behind Purple Line Lawsuits |url=https://moco360.media/2017/10/13/town-of-chevy-chase-votes-against-providing-money-to-group-behind-purple-line-lawsuit/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=October 13, 2017}}</ref>
In October 2017, Rubin voted to approve a $50,000 grant to the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail, a trail group that was suing to prevent the construction of the [[Purple Line (Maryland)|Purple Line]], saying that the companies contracted to build the transit line were not following commitments to ease the impact to the town. The grant was rejected by the Chevy Chase Town Council by a 4–1 vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Metcalf |first1=Andrew |title=Town of Chevy Chase Votes Against Providing Money to Group Behind Purple Line Lawsuits |url=https://moco360.media/2017/10/13/town-of-chevy-chase-votes-against-providing-money-to-group-behind-purple-line-lawsuit/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=October 13, 2017}}</ref>


Rubin has criticized the use of the term "[[apartheid]]" towards [[Israel]] as antisemitic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boorstein |first1=Michelle |title=Jewish American groups appeal to Biden White House after string of antisemitic attacks related to Israel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/05/21/jews-antisemitic-attack-los-angeles-times-square-biden-israel-palestine/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> During his 2024 congressional campaign, Rubin described himself as a "defender of Israel", but said he opposed the expansion of [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank#Settlement|Israeli settlements in the West Bank]] as well as Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s proposed judicial reforms.<ref name="MD06" />
Rubin has criticized the use of the term "[[apartheid]]" towards [[Israel]] as antisemitic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boorstein |first1=Michelle |title=Jewish American groups appeal to Biden White House after string of antisemitic attacks related to Israel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/05/21/jews-antisemitic-attack-los-angeles-times-square-biden-israel-palestine/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> During his 2024 congressional campaign, he described himself as a "defender of Israel", but said he opposed the expansion of [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank#Settlement|Israeli settlements in the West Bank]] as well as Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s [[2023 Israeli judicial reform|proposed judicial reforms]].<ref name="MD06" /> In October 2023, amid the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]], Rubin said he supported providing additional air missile defense systems for the [[Iron Dome]], supporting humanitarian efforts in [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], and preventing escalation from [[Hezbollah]] and [[Iran]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=How do Maryland's Sixth Congressional District candidates think the Israel-Hamas crisis should be handled? |url=https://moco360.media/2023/10/31/how-do-marylands-sixth-congressional-district-candidates-think-the-israel-hamas-crisis-should-be-handled/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=October 31, 2023}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
[[File:Joel Rubin 0306 (40475263562).jpg|thumb|Rubin and his wife during his 2018 House of Delegates campaign]]
[[File:Joel Rubin 0306 (40475263562).jpg|thumb|Rubin and his wife during his 2018 House of Delegates campaign]]
Rubin is married to his wife, Nilmini (née Gunaratne), who he had met at a going-away party for his college roommate in the spring of 2000.<ref>{{cite news |title=WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Nilmini Gunaratne, Joel Rubin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/21/style/weddings-celebrations-nilmini-gunaratne-joel-rubin.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 21, 2003}}</ref> She is a [[Sri Lankan-American]] who works as a senior policy advisor for the [[House Foreign Affairs Committee]] and is a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref name=":1" /> Together, they have three daughters<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |title=Chevy Chase Fourth-Grader Issues Challenge To Color Inside Congressional District Lines |url=https://moco360.media/2017/10/05/chevy-chase-fourth-grader-issues-challenge-to-color-inside-congressional-district-lines/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=October 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=Five things to know about congressional candidate Joel Rubin |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/five-things-to-know-about-congressional-candidate-joel-rubin/2016/04/05/8df146c8-ef90-11e5-a61f-e9c95c06edca_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 5, 2016}}</ref> and have lived in [[Chevy Chase, Maryland]] since 2006.<ref name="2018run" /> He is Jewish and a member of the [[Adas Israel Congregation (Washington, D.C.)|Adas Israel Congregation]].<ref name="WJW">{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Jesse |title=From Chevy Chase to the Middle East, Joel Rubin is always drawn back to Jewish causes |url=https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/from-chevy-chase-to-the-middle-east-joel-rubin-is-always-drawn-back-to-jewish-causes/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Washington Jewish Week]] |date=July 27, 2022}}</ref>
Rubin is married to his wife, Nilmini (née Gunaratne), whom he met at a going-away party for his college roommate in the spring of 2000.<ref>{{cite news |title=WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Nilmini Gunaratne, Joel Rubin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/21/style/weddings-celebrations-nilmini-gunaratne-joel-rubin.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 21, 2003}}</ref> She is a [[Sri Lankan-American]] who works as a senior policy advisor for the [[House Foreign Affairs Committee]] and is a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref name=":1" /> Together, they have three daughters<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |title=Chevy Chase Fourth-Grader Issues Challenge To Color Inside Congressional District Lines |url=https://moco360.media/2017/10/05/chevy-chase-fourth-grader-issues-challenge-to-color-inside-congressional-district-lines/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[MoCo360]] |date=October 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=Five things to know about congressional candidate Joel Rubin |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/five-things-to-know-about-congressional-candidate-joel-rubin/2016/04/05/8df146c8-ef90-11e5-a61f-e9c95c06edca_story.html |access-date=July 24, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 5, 2016}}</ref> and have lived in [[Montgomery County, Maryland]] since 2006.<ref name="2018run" /> He is Jewish and a member of the [[Adas Israel Congregation (Washington, D.C.)|Adas Israel Congregation]].<ref name="WJW">{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Jesse |title=From Chevy Chase to the Middle East, Joel Rubin is always drawn back to Jewish causes |url=https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/from-chevy-chase-to-the-middle-east-joel-rubin-is-always-drawn-back-to-jewish-causes/ |access-date=July 24, 2023 |work=[[Washington Jewish Week]] |date=July 27, 2022}}</ref>


==Electoral history==
==Electoral history==
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|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
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[[Category:Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign]]
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[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Obama administration personnel]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections]]
[[Category:21st-century Maryland politicians]]

Latest revision as of 21:17, 25 November 2024

Not to be confused with Joel Rubin, an American musician.
Joel Martin Rubin
Rubin in 2019
Member of the Chevy Chase Town Council
In office
May 10, 2017 – May 10, 2023
Preceded byFred Cecere
Succeeded byStephanie Martz
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for House Affairs
In office
May 5, 2014 – July 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
SecretaryJohn Kerry
Personal details
Born (1971-04-08) April 8, 1971 (age 53)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Nilmini Gunaratne
​
(m. 2003)​
Children3
Alma materBrandeis University (BS)
Carnegie Mellon University (MS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Joel Martin Rubin (born April 8, 1971) is an American politician and media commentator on domestic political and Middle East affairs. He served as a member of the Chevy Chase Town Council from 2017 to 2023, and previously worked as a senior State Department official in the Obama administration.[1] In 2020, Rubin also directed Jewish outreach for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.[2][3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Rubin was born on April 8, 1971,[4] and raised in a Conservative Jewish family[3] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5] He attended Brandeis University for his undergraduate education, where he received a bachelor's degree in politics. He went on to study Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, where he received an M.S. in public policy and management with a minor in business administration.[6]

Career

[edit]

Advocacy

[edit]

Rubin served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica.[7] Rubin was the founding Political Director of J Street, a liberal organization dedicated to promoting the two state solution and secular left wing values;[8] Rubin worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, both Democrats.[9]

Media

[edit]

Rubin appears as a political commentator on American networks such as MSNBC[10] and Fox News; and on international networks such as i24, China Global Television Network, and Al-Jazeera. He also writes political and national security commentary for Axios,[11] The Forward,[12] Washington Jewish Week,[13] and The Hill.[14]

Rubin has also appeared in Jewish magazines for his political work.[15]

Executive Branch

[edit]

Rubin worked for three U.S. government agencies in the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama – the Department of Energy, USAID, and State Department.[3] In January 2015, when he served in the State Department as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for House Affairs in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, he was an official government witness and testified to the House Select Committee on Benghazi.[7] Rubin left the U.S. State Department in July 2015.[9]

Political involvement

[edit]

Rubin was a founding board member of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, established in 2017 in the wake of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 2020, he joined Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign as head of Jewish outreach,[2][3] and worked as a policy volunteer for the Joe Biden's presidential campaign following the Democratic primaries.[6] From 2020 to 2022, Rubin worked as an executive director for the American Jewish Congress advocacy group.[16][6]

Rubin was a surrogate for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign; an advocate for the Iran nuclear deal as the Policy Director for Ploughshares Fund; and as a commentator on the 2012 Benghazi attack.[citation needed] Following the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting at his hometown synagogue, Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation, Joel appeared on Fox News and MSNBC to discuss the attack,[17] later commenting as well on the rise of antisemitism in America after the 2019 Poway synagogue shooting.[18] Rubin frequently comments on foreign policy and congressional politics for networks such as Fox News, MSNBC, BBC, Al Jazeera.[citation needed]

Elections

[edit]
Main articles: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland § District 8, 2018 Maryland House of Delegates election § District 18, and 2024 Maryland's 6th congressional district election

Rubin ran for Congress in 2016 in Maryland's 8th congressional district,[7] in what was the most expensive Congressional primary in American history at the time.[19] He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing second to last with 1.1 percent of the vote.[20] Rubin was elected to the Chevy Chase Town Council in 2017,[21] and was subsequently re-elected in 2019[22] and 2021.[23]

In 2018, Rubin unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 18, seeking to succeed outgoing state delegates Jeff Waldstreicher and Ana Sol Gutierrez.[24] He received endorsements from the Montgomery County Education Association and NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland during his campaign,[25] but was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fifth with 11.2 percent of the vote.[26] In 2022, Rubin applied to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 18, seeking to replace state delegate Al Carr on the ballot after Carr withdrew his candidacy hours before the candidate filing deadline on April 15 to run for the county council, and no candidates were able to file to run in his place before the deadline.[27] The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated one of its members, Aaron Kaufman, to fill vacancy on April 20, 2022.[28]

On July 24, 2023, Rubin announced that he would run for Congress in Maryland's 6th congressional district in 2024, seeking to succeed outgoing U.S. Representative David Trone.[29] During the Democratic primary, he ran on a platform that included national and foreign policy issues.[30] Rubin dropped out of the race on March 6, 2024, and endorsed former National Telecommunications and Information Administration deputy administrator April McClain-Delaney.[31]

Political positions

[edit]

During his tenure at the U.S. State Department, Rubin worked to prevent Congress from passing a resolution of disapproval of the Iran Nuclear Deal with a veto-proof majority.[7]

During his 2016 congressional campaign, Rubin said he supported raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, increasing infrastructure spending, and strengthening Social Security and Medicare by removing the cap on payroll taxes.[32] He also spoke against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, citing concerns over protections for workers at home and abroad,[33] and said he supported moving funding away from the U.S. Department of Defense and toward education.[34]

In October 2017, Rubin voted to approve a $50,000 grant to the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail, a trail group that was suing to prevent the construction of the Purple Line, saying that the companies contracted to build the transit line were not following commitments to ease the impact to the town. The grant was rejected by the Chevy Chase Town Council by a 4–1 vote.[35]

Rubin has criticized the use of the term "apartheid" towards Israel as antisemitic.[36] During his 2024 congressional campaign, he described himself as a "defender of Israel", but said he opposed the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms.[29] In October 2023, amid the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Rubin said he supported providing additional air missile defense systems for the Iron Dome, supporting humanitarian efforts in Palestine, and preventing escalation from Hezbollah and Iran.[37]

Personal life

[edit]
Rubin and his wife during his 2018 House of Delegates campaign

Rubin is married to his wife, Nilmini (née Gunaratne), whom he met at a going-away party for his college roommate in the spring of 2000.[38] She is a Sri Lankan-American who works as a senior policy advisor for the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is a registered Republican.[3] Together, they have three daughters[39][40] and have lived in Montgomery County, Maryland since 2006.[24] He is Jewish and a member of the Adas Israel Congregation.[6]

Electoral history

[edit]
Maryland's 8th congressional district Democratic primary election, 2016[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jamie Raskin 43,776 33.6
Democratic David Trone 35,400 27.1
Democratic Kathleen Matthews 31,186 23.9
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 7,185 5.5
Democratic Will Jawando 6,058 4.6
Democratic Kumar P. Barve 3,149 2.4
Democratic David M. Anderson 1,511 1.2
Democratic Joel Rubin 1,426 1.1
Democratic Dan Bolling 712 0.5
Maryland House of Delegates District 18 Democratic primary election, 2018[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Al Carr (incumbent) 10,201 22.2
Democratic Emily Shetty 9,024 19.6
Democratic Jared Solomon 8,067 17.5
Democratic Leslie Milano 6,510 14.2
Democratic Joel Rubin 5,150 11.2
Democratic Mila Johns 4,167 9.1
Democratic Ron Franks 1,493 3.2
Democratic Helga Luest 1,387 3.0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rubin, Joel M." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  2. ^ a b "Bernie Sanders picks former Obama official as liaison to Jewish community in a nod to the establishment". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e Boorstein, Michelle (2020-03-18). "Bernie Sanders was on a path to become the first Jewish president. That was everything to Joel Rubin". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-05-22.(subscription required)
  4. ^ "State Delegate District 18 (three seats)". MoCo360. February 13, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Kurtz, Josh. "District 6 congressional race is developing slowly". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Berman, Jesse (July 27, 2022). "From Chevy Chase to the Middle East, Joel Rubin is always drawn back to Jewish causes". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Turque, Bill (2016-04-04). "Middle East peace activist wants to take fight to Republicans in Congress". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  8. ^ Melada, Geoffrey (2015-08-26). "Exit interview: Joel Rubin". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  9. ^ a b Turque, Bill (October 7, 2015). "Former State Department official joins Maryland congressional race". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "Search". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  11. ^ "Joel Rubin". Axios. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  12. ^ "Joel Rubin". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  13. ^ "You searched for Joel Rubin". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  14. ^ "Search". The Hill. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  15. ^ Stutman, Gabe (2020-03-16). "Bernie Sanders' Jewish outreach chief makes the case for Bernie". J. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  16. ^ Kurtz, Josh (October 13, 2020). "A New Gig for Joel Rubin". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Tree of Life member on attack: This is a manmade crisis". Fox News. October 27, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  18. ^ Fearnow, Benjamin (April 28, 2019). "Fox News Cuts Off Guest Tying Rise in U.S. Anti-Semitism to Trump Rhetoric, Charlottesville". Newsweek. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  19. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (2016-03-05). "Maryland House Race a 'Caldron of Power Couples and Washington, D.C., Politics'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-22.(subscription required)
  20. ^ a b "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  21. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (May 1, 2017). "Former Congressional Candidate and an Incumbent Run for Chevy Chase Council Seats". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Schere, Dan (May 8, 2019). "Baskir, Rubin Re-Elected to Chevy Chase Town Council". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  23. ^ Schere, Dan (May 14, 2021). "One incumbent, one newcomer elected to Chevy Chase Town Council". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Peck, Louis (November 9, 2017). "Town Of Chevy Chase Council Member Joel Rubin To Enter District 18 Delegate Race". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Peck, Louis (June 13, 2018). "2018 Endorsements: Candidates for U.S. Congress and Maryland General Assembly". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  27. ^ Bohnel, Steve (April 19, 2022). "10 candidates make the case for filling District 18 ballot vacancy". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Schere, Dan (April 20, 2022). "Democratic Central Committee chooses member Aaron Kaufman to fill District 18 vacancy on primary ballot". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Kornbluh, Jacob (July 24, 2023). "Joel Rubin, who worked in Jewish outreach for Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, launches bid for U.S. House seat". The Forward. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  30. ^ Bixby, Ginny (December 18, 2023). "Speed dating in District 6: Voters get personal with Democratic congressional candidates". MoCo360. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Pagnucco, Adam (March 6, 2024). "Rubin Drops Out, Endorses Delaney". Montgomery Perspective. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Mullins, Patti Borda (February 25, 2016). "U.S. House race: Rubin says 'inside' government experience is significant". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  33. ^ Peck, Louis (November 10, 2015). "Local Version Of 'Undercard' Forum Features Three Democrats Seeking Congressional Nod". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  34. ^ Turque, Bill (January 28, 2016). "GOP, Democratic hopefuls in Md. 8th Congressional District make joint appearance". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  35. ^ Metcalf, Andrew (October 13, 2017). "Town of Chevy Chase Votes Against Providing Money to Group Behind Purple Line Lawsuits". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  36. ^ Boorstein, Michelle (May 21, 2021). "Jewish American groups appeal to Biden White House after string of antisemitic attacks related to Israel". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Bixby, Ginny (October 31, 2023). "How do Maryland's Sixth Congressional District candidates think the Israel-Hamas crisis should be handled?". MoCo360. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  38. ^ "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Nilmini Gunaratne, Joel Rubin". The New York Times. September 21, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  39. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (October 5, 2017). "Chevy Chase Fourth-Grader Issues Challenge To Color Inside Congressional District Lines". MoCo360. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  40. ^ Turque, Bill (April 5, 2016). "Five things to know about congressional candidate Joel Rubin". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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