Rufus Hardy was a United States Representative of the Democratic Party from the state of Texas.

From 1880 to 1884, he served as a prosecuting attorney of Navarro County, Texas. He served as District Attorney for the Texas 13th Judicial District 1884–1888, and as District Judge of the same district 1888–1896. Hardy represented Texas in the United States House of Representatives 1907–1923. Upon retirement from Congress, Hardy returned to private practice in Corsicana.