USAState & local legislatureDemocratic PartyIowa · Iowa's 33rd House DistrictMember of the Iowa House of Representatives
Ruth Ann Gaines
Profile
Ruth Ann Gaines is an American politician serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 33rd District. First elected in 2010, she has held office since 2011 and is a founding member of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus. Before her political career, she was a distinguished drama teacher and educator, earning recognition as the Iowa Teacher of the Year in 1998. Throughout her legislative tenure, she has focused on education, diversity, disability rights, and mental health care. She is set to retire at the end of the 2026 legislative session.
Details
- Born
- 1947 · 79 years old
- Birth place
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Education
- St. Joseph Academy; Clarke College (B.A.); University of California, Santa Barbara (M.A.)
- Career
- Drama teacher at East High School; speech and drama instructor at Des Moines Area Community College; actress, playwright, and director
