Ronald Rice was an American politician. Rice represented the 28th legislative District. He is one of the longest-serving state senators in New Jersey’s history.
His son, Ronald C. Rice is a former city councilman in Newark, New Jersey. Rice left office effective August 31, 2022, due to health issues.
Rice was one of only two Democrats in the Senate to vote no on two bills legalising same-sex marriage in New Jersey from 2009 to 2012, the other twice-dissenting Democrat was Jeff Van Drew.
Rice was one of New Jersey’s presidential electors in the 2004 presidential election, for Democratic candidate, John Kerry. He was a leading opponent of legislation in the 218th New Jersey Legislature to legalise marijuana in New Jersey, arguing that legalisation would force urban neighbours to “struggle against the spread of marijuana bodegas” as disguised as dispensaries.
Ronald Rice died on March 15, 2023. The actual cause of his death is yet to be known.