# Malcolm Ruff

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{{Short description|American politician (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | name            = Malcolm Ruff
 | image           = Malcolm Ruff Baltiimore 2026.jpg
 | caption         = Ruff in 2026
 | state_delegate  = Maryland
 | district        = [41st](/source/Maryland_Legislative_District_41)
 | appointer      = [Wes Moore](/source/Wes_Moore)
 | term_start      = July 6, 2023
 | term_end        = 
 | alongside       = [Sean Stinnett](/source/Sean_Stinnett) and [Samuel I. Rosenberg](/source/Samuel_I._Rosenberg)
 | predecessor     = [Tony Bridges](/source/Tony_Bridges)
 | successor       = 
 | birth_name      = 
 | birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1984|4|18}}
 | birth_place     = [Baltimore, Maryland](/source/Baltimore%2C_Maryland), U.S.
 | party           = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
 | spouse          = Sydnee
 | children        = 4
 | education       = 
 | alma_mater      = [Duke University](/source/Duke_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[University of Baltimore](/source/University_of_Baltimore) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
 | occupation      = Attorney
 | website         = {{URL|https://malcolmruff.com/|Campaign website}}
}}

'''Malcolm Peter Ruff'''<ref name="Martindale">{{cite web |title=Malcolm Peter Ruff  |url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/malcolm-peter-ruff-168911402/ |website=Martindale.com |publisher=[Martindale-Hubbell](/source/Martindale-Hubbell) |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> (born April 18, 1984) is an American politician and attorney who has served as a member of the [Maryland House of Delegates](/source/Maryland_House_of_Delegates) from [District 41](/source/Maryland_Legislative_District_41) since 2023.

Ruff is a member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) as well as an associate with the law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, which is managed by prominent civil rights attorney [Billy Murphy Jr.](/source/Billy_Murphy_Jr.) He has been described as a  [protégé](/source/prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9) of Murphy.<ref name="Maryland Matters">{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Baltimore Democrats deadlock, send two names to governor for consideration to fill House vacancy |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/06/08/baltimore-democrats-deadlock-send-two-names-to-governor-for-consideration-to-fill-house-vacancy/ |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[Maryland Matters](/source/Maryland_Matters) |date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Ruff was born in [Baltimore](/source/Baltimore) on April 18, 1984.<ref name="Duke" /> He grew up in the [Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore](/source/Park_Heights%2C_Baltimore),<ref name="40under40" /> and spent his summers on a small family-owned farm in [Harford County, Maryland](/source/Harford_County%2C_Maryland).<ref name="Nichols">{{cite news |last1=Morales |first1=Maria |title=Harford and Cecil residents call for action, change during Tyre Nichols memorial in Aberdeen |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harford-cecil-tyre-nichols-memorial-20230222-z7pmtcx6grh5znfdeinsztw3yy-story.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[The Aegis](/source/The_Aegis_(newspaper)) |date=February 22, 2023}}</ref> Ruff graduated from the [Gilman School](/source/Gilman_School) in 2002, where he was considered a track and football standout.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Glenn |title=On track for retirement: Curley's Gene Hoffman, Gilman's Johnnie Foreman leave impressive legacies |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/high-school/bs-sp-va-hoffman-foreman-track-20200519-zhoenokn6ffkpakiqxlnj5ghhi-story.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun) |date=May 19, 2020}}</ref> He later attended [Duke University](/source/Duke_University), where he played for the [Duke Blue Devils](/source/Duke_Blue_Devils) football team<ref name="Duke">{{cite web |title=Malcolm Ruff |url=https://goduke.com/sports/football/roster/malcolm-ruff/9167 |website=goduke.com |publisher=Duke Blue Devils |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> and earned a [bachelor's degree](/source/bachelor's_degree) in African and African American studies in 2006.<ref name="Justia" /> Ruff later attended the [University of Baltimore School of Law](/source/University_of_Baltimore_School_of_Law), where he earned a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree in 2012.<ref name="Justia">{{cite web |title=Malcolm Ruff |url=https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/malcolm-ruff-1522799 |website=lawyers.justia.com |publisher=Justia |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> While at the University of Baltimore, he was one of only six students nationwide selected for the [NAACP](/source/NAACP)-[Kellogg's](/source/Kellogg's) Law Fellow program.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet a Student: Malcolm Ruff |url=http://www.ubalt.edu/ubmag/issue75/Alumni_Magazine_Fall_2009.pdf |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=University of Baltimore Magazine |date=Fall 2009 |page=4}}</ref>

==Legal career==
Ruff has been a member of the [Maryland Bar](/source/Maryland_Bar) since 2012.<ref name="Martindale" /> He began his legal career as an assistant state's attorney in [Baltimore](/source/Baltimore) and [Baltimore County](/source/Baltimore_County),<ref name="Justia" /> where he prosecuted criminal cases.<ref>{{cite news |title=Malcolm P. Ruff |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/11/30/malcolm-p-ruff/ |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[The Daily Record](/source/Daily_Record_(Maryland)) |location=Baltimore, Maryland |date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> From 2014 to 2018, he worked as a trial attorney for the Saller & Biship law firm.<ref name="legbio" /> Afterwards, Ruff became a partner at the Murphy, Falcon & Murphy law firm.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malcolm P. Ruff |url=https://www.murphyfalcon.com/our-team/malcolm-p-ruff/ |website=murphyfalcon.com |publisher=Murphy, Falcon & Murphy |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> In this position, he has represented several victims of [police brutality](/source/police_brutality) and [wrongful death](/source/wrongful_death) matters, including in the cases of [Jordan McNair](/source/Jordan_McNair),<ref>{{cite news |title=2 ex-Maryland players reach settlement to football lawsuit |url=https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-football-lawsuits-maryland-6eda38f2f7b0e5b35fa902ba06cd7b17 |access-date=May 17, 2026 |work=Associated Press |date=December 17, 2021}}</ref> William Green,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Heather |title=$20 Million Settlement Reached in Officer's Fatal Shooting of William Green |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/us/william-green-settlement.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> Quinton Burns,<ref>{{cite news |last1=del Valle |first1=Lauren |title=Family sues SeaWorld's Sesame Place Philadelphia for alleged racist interaction |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/us/philadelphia-seaworld-sesame-place-suit-reaj/index.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[CNN](/source/CNN) |date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> Taizier Griffin,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Steve |title=Teen shot with Taser along Ocean City boardwalk acquitted of most-serious charges |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/03/11/ocean-city-police-taser/ |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post) |date=March 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Prudente |first1=Tim |title=Baltimore attorney Billy Murphy takes case of Black teens violently arrested on Ocean City boardwalk |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ocean-city-arrests-presser-20210629-eruxtqvw2vdxvnacobgvqqlyp4-story.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 29, 2021}}</ref> Renardo Green,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Luke |title=Annapolis seeks to dismiss $75 million wrongful death suit; Renardo Green's family must respond by Wednesday |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/ac-cn-renardo-green-file-to-dismiss-20230213-6bkggmegjnd47hq2ge42x2sf2e-story.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 13, 2023}}</ref> Zayne Abdullah,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Jessica |title=Baltimore police officer convicted of lying about being spat on before struggle that was captured on viral video |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-officer-spitting-conviction-20210914-skbefttrozgrdj44idaxladjgy-story.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 14, 2021}}</ref> and Demonte Ward-Blake.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hilton |first1=Jasmine |last2=Mettler |first2=Katie |title=Family of man paralyzed during Md. traffic stop wins $7.5 million |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/03/30/demonte-ward-blake-prince-georges-police-lawsuit-settlement/ |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=The Washington Post |date=March 31, 2023}}</ref>

Outside of his legal career, Ruff is the founder of the Pagya Project, a non-profit to support residents of underserved communities and to address homelessness and street violence in Baltimore.<ref name="40under40">{{cite news |last1=Iannetta |first1=Jessica |title=40 Under 40 2019: Malcolm Ruff, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/c/meet-the-baltimore-business-journals40-under-40/11121/40-under-40-2019-malcolm-ruff-murphy-falcon-murphy.html |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=Baltimore Business Journal |date=2019}}</ref>

In February 2023, Ruff participated in and spoke at a [Tyre Nichols protest](/source/Tyre_Nichols_protests) at [Festival Park in Aberdeen, Maryland](/source/Aberdeen%2C_Maryland), where he read a list of names of African Americans killed in police encounters and suggested that police agencies "clean house".<ref name="Nichols" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=Jeff |title=Protests to remain peaceful following release of Nichols' video |url=https://www.wmar2news.com/local/calls-for-change-and-protests-to-remain-peaceful-following-release-of-nichols-video |access-date=June 11, 2023 |work=[WMAR-TV](/source/WMAR-TV) |date=January 27, 2023}}</ref>

==Political career==
===Maryland House of Delegates===
[[File:Ruff sworn in.jpg|thumb|Malcolm Ruff, with his family, being sworn in by House Speaker [Adrienne A. Jones](/source/Adrienne_A._Jones)]]
In May 2023, following the appointment of state delegate [Tony Bridges](/source/Tony_Bridges) as the Assistant Secretary for the [Maryland Department of Transportation](/source/Maryland_Department_of_Transportation), Ruff applied to fill the vacancy left by his resignation in the Maryland House of Delegates. In June 2023, the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee voted to send Governor [Wes Moore](/source/Wes_Moore) the names of both Ruff and former state delegate [Angela Gibson](/source/Angela_Gibson) for consideration to fill the vacancy.<ref name="Maryland Matters" /> On June 18, 2023, Moore appointed Ruff to fill the vacancy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Gov. Moore appoints Malcolm Ruff to House of Delegates |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/malcolm-ruff-maryland-house-of-delegates-wes-moore-R7MC6YBJVVBONLMKVNH327MHRI/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=[The Baltimore Banner](/source/The_Baltimore_Banner) |date=June 18, 2023}}</ref> He was sworn in on July 6, 2023.<ref name="legbio">{{cite web |title=Members - Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/ruff01 |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=July 6, 2023 |date=July 6, 2023}}</ref>

House speaker [Adrienne A. Jones](/source/Adrienne_A._Jones) assigned Ruff to the Appropriations committee<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan |title=House back to full membership after new delegates are sworn in |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/07/06/house-back-to-full-membership-after-new-delegates-are-sworn-in/ |work=Maryland Matters |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=July 6, 2023}}</ref> and he is also a member of the [Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland](/source/Legislative_Black_Caucus_of_Maryland) and the [Baltimore City Delegation](/source/Baltimore_City_Delegation).<ref name="msa" /> During the 2024 legislative session Ruff was the chief sponsor of HB 1358, a bill that would create the first ever state park in Baltimore City.  Specifically the bill, which was signed into law by the Governor, created a state-city partnership for the preservation of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, Baltimore's largest park.<ref>{{cite web |title=HB1358 (2024) |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1358?ys=2024RS&search=True |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=May 18, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GOVERNOR MOORE SIGNS BILL ADVANCING EFFORT FOR STATE-CITY PARTNERSHIP AT GWYNNS FALLS/LEAKIN PARK |url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Documents/Gwynns-Falls/HB1358-signing-press-release.pdf |website=dnr.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland Department of Natural Resources |access-date=May 18, 2026}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2026}}

In January 2026, new Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates [Joseline Peña-Melnyk](/source/Joseline_Pe%C3%B1a-Melnyk) appointed Ruff Chairman of the Capital Budget subcommittee of the Appropriations committee.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Malcolm P. Ruff, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18544.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=[Maryland State Archives](/source/Maryland_State_Archives) |access-date=May 16, 2026 |date=January 27, 2026}}</ref>
During the 2026 legislative session, Ruff supported a bill that would ban the sale of firearms that can be converted into [automatic firearm](/source/automatic_firearm)s through the use of a [Glock switch](/source/Glock_switch).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petrowich |first1=Sarah |title=Maryland lawmakers on course to ban sale of Glocks and 'machine gun convertible pistols' |url=https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-04-07/maryland-lawmakers-on-course-to-ban-sale-of-glocks-and-machine-gun-convertible-pistols |access-date=April 8, 2026 |work=[WYPR](/source/WYPR) |date=April 7, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

===2026 Maryland Senate campaign===
[[File:Governor Moore speaks at Malcolm Ruff rally.jpg|thumb|Governor Moore speaks at Malcolm Ruff rally in [Edmondson Village, Baltimore](/source/Edmondson_Village%2C_Baltimore), May 18, 2026.]]
In January 2025, after state senator [Jill P. Carter](/source/Jill_P._Carter) resigned following her nomination to the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals, Ruff applied to fill the remainder of Carter's term in the [Maryland Senate](/source/Maryland_Senate).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |last2=Sears |first2=Bryan P. |last3=Kurtz |first3=Josh |title=More legislative seats to fill, more money raised, more excitement over the budget, more notes |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/01/20/more-legislative-seats-to-fill-more-money-raised-more-excitement-over-the-budget-more-notes/ |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 20, 2025}}</ref> Ruff was backed by Carter and Baltimore lawyer [Billy Murphy Jr.](/source/Billy_Murphy_Jr.)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=Upset in northwest's 41st District places Dalya Attar over Malcolm Ruff as area's prospective state senator |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/22/upset-in-northwests-41st-district-places-dayla-attar-over-malcolm-ruff-as-areas-next-state-senator/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |work=[Baltimore Brew](/source/Baltimore_Brew) |date=January 22, 2025 |language=en-us}}</ref> The Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee voted 5–3 to nominate [Dalya Attar](/source/Dalya_Attar) to the seat later that month.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Baltimore Democrats nominate Del. Dalya Attar to the state Senate |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/maryland/dalya-attar-maryland-senate-vacancy-XGHIGIA6QJGEXPZQ37LROCM25U/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=January 21, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2025, Ruff announced that he would [run for the Maryland Senate](/source/2026_Maryland_Senate_election) in District 41, challenging Attar.<ref name="Senate2026">{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Del. Malcolm Ruff will seek West Baltimore state Senate seat |url=https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/malcolm-ruff-dalya-attar-senate-VB5W7RQYZFA6RM63TMOEH7B2NQ/ |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=August 21, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> During the Democratic primary, he received endorsements from Governor Moore,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan P. |last2=William J. |first2=Ford |title=Moore issues scores of endorsements, but some incumbent Democrats miss the cut |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/05/08/moore-issues-scores-of-endorsements-but-some-incumbent-democrats-miss-the-cut/ |access-date=March 16, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=May 8, 2026}}</ref> former state senator Jill Carter,<ref name="Senate2026" /> and civil rights attorney Billy Murphy Jr.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |last2=Sears |first2=Bryan P. |title=A fight brews in Baltimore, comparing GOP bona fides, a rare bipartisan agreement, more in notes |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/08/22/a-fight-brews-in-baltimore-comparing-gop-bona-fides-a-rare-bipartisan-agreement-more-in-notes/ |access-date=March 16, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 22, 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ruff lives in Baltimore. He is married to his wife, Sydnee, and has four children. He is a member of the Heritage United Church of Christ.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malcolm Ruff |url=https://insideoutinitiative.org/team/malcolm-ruff/ |website=insideoutinitiative.org |publisher=Inside Out Initiative |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{cite web |title=Malcolm P. Ruff, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18544.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=[Maryland State Archives](/source/Maryland_State_Archives) |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=July 7, 2023}}

{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruff, Malcolm}}
Category:1984 births
Category:Living people
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland
Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Category:Duke University alumni
Category:Lawyers from Baltimore
Category:Politicians from Baltimore
Category:University of Baltimore School of Law alumni
Category:Duke Blue Devils football players
Category:21st-century African-American lawyers
Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly
Category:American athlete-politicians

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Malcolm Ruff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Ruff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Ruff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.