Andy Ruff was born on August 21, 1962, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 1987, and a secondary teaching certification and a master's degree in public and environmental affairs from Indiana University in 2007. Ruff’s career experience includes working as an environmental planner for county government, as a high school science teacher, and he has worked in higher education as an academic advisor and in government. Ruff has served as an at-large member with the Bloomington City Council. Ruff (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Indiana's 9th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.