Rafferty graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham in 2003. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and participated in Anytown Alabama during his youth. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005 at age 20, serving as a corporal during the Global War on Terrorism era under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. His military service included deployments and training in Israel, South America, and East Africa, where he served as an infantry assaultman and certified combat life saver.

After completing his military service in 2009, Rafferty used his G.I. Bill benefits to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he co-founded the UAB Student Veterans Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science magna cum laude in 2010. He also completed post-baccalaureate studies in Human Biology from 2012 to 2015 and worked as a Human Anatomy Lab Instructor at UAB from 2010 to 2016.

Rafferty began his professional career at Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) in 2012 as a Testing Outreach Coordinator. He advanced through various positions at the organization, serving as Youth Prevention Coordinator, Education and Prevention Coordinator, and ultimately as B-CHIP Program Director and Director of Research and Development. In this role, he managed collaborative projects addressing health disparities through partnerships with community organizations, the Centers for Disease Control, and health departments to implement evidence-based interventions for high-risk populations.

His entry into politics came in 2018 when incumbent Patricia Todd announced she would not seek re-election. Rafferty received Todd's endorsement in the Democratic primary. He advanced to a runoff election against Jacqueline Gray Miller after receiving 48.8% of the vote in the initial primary, then won the runoff with 67.1% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Independent candidate Joseph Casper Baker III with 89.9% of the vote.

In the Alabama House of Representatives, Rafferty serves as House Democratic Whip since November 2022 and chairs the Democratic House Caucus Platform Committee. His committee assignments include the Health Committee, Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee, and Jefferson County Legislation Committee. He has also been appointed to the Alabama Challenge Veterans Suicide Task Force, the Opioid Overdose, Addiction, and Treatment Council, and the 988 Implementation Study Group.

Rafferty has sponsored significant legislation addressing healthcare access and social equity issues. His notable legislative achievements include HB 152, which exempted baby formula, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products from state sales tax, passing the Alabama House unanimously in March 2025. He established the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program to provide income tax credit incentives for medical students training in rural and underserved counties. Additionally, he introduced HB 291 in 2025 aiming to repeal the 2016 Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right-to-Work Act.

During the 2022 Alabama legislative session, Rafferty delivered strong opposition to bills criminalizing gender-affirming medical care for minors and requiring schools to designate facilities by biological sex at birth. His advocacy extends to women's health, minority health, LGBTQ and racial equity, veterans' issues, and Medicaid expansion.

In 2024, Rafferty was honored with the Council of State Governments' 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, recognizing his commitment to public service and innovative solutions. He was also a member of the 2022 class of Leadership Birmingham.

Rafferty married Michael Rudulph, a fellow Marine Corps veteran, in 2018. The couple's relationship began in the mid-2000s when Rudulph was serving in Iraq during the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era. They reside in the Crestwood area of Birmingham. Rafferty was re-elected in 2022 with 98.9% of the vote, and his current term ends on November 4, 2026.