Ruffo's 1989 victory made a new possibility visible: in Baja California, an opposition candidate could win a governorship, have the result officially recognized, and govern within a system still dominated by the PRI. It did not single-handedly begin the transition, but it opened a door that would not close again.
His governorship took place within a system where fiscal, administrative, and security power remained concentrated in the federal government. Federalism was a constant governing problem.
The border is central to his history: birth in San Diego, cross-border commerce, customs, infrastructure, and the distinct political culture of northern Mexico.
His private career in Ensenada's fishing industry and his Senate committee work highlight fisheries as both a regional industry and a sustainability challenge.
His rise was framed as a citizen challenge to entrenched institutions. He later promoted initiatives concerning membership roll integrity and internal party democracy.