Bob Rucho

Robert Rucho
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office June 9, 2008 – January 1, 2017
Preceded by	Robert Pittenger
Succeeded by	Dan Bishop
Constituency	39th district
In office January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2005
Preceded by	Jerry Blackmon
Succeeded by	Robert Pittenger
Constituency	35th district (1997–2003) 39th district (2003–2005)
Personal details
Born	Robert Anthony Rucho (1948-12-08) December 8, 1948 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence(s)	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	Northeastern University University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Occupation	Dentist

Robert Anthony Rucho (born December 8, 1948), a dentist from Matthews, North Carolina, is a former Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's thirty-ninth Senate district, including parts of Mecklenburg County.

Career

Rucho served as co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee until his abrupt resignation in June 2013 in a dispute with Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger over tax reform policy. Berger never accepted the resignation and the next month, Rucho resumed his chairmanship.

Views on the Affordable Care Act

Rucho gained much criticism, including from within his own party, after he tweeted "Justice Robert's pen & Obamacare has done more damage to the USA then [sic] the swords of the Nazis, Soviets & terrorists combined" on December 15, 2013.

Rucho v. Common Cause

Rucho notably was named as the defendant in the 2019 Supreme Court case Rucho v. Common Cause, which involved redistricting and partisan gerrymandering. Though Rucho had already departed the state legislature by the time the case made its way up to the Supreme Court, he had previously been the chair of the committee in the state senate responsible for redrawing North Carolina's congressional districts, which drew a map heavily favoring Republicans under his leadership.

External links

• News & Observer: Rucho retakes legislative seat