Rahall, Nick J. (Nick Joe), II, 1949-

RAHALL, Nick Joe, II, a Representative from West Virginia; born in Beckley, Raleigh County, W.Va., May 20, 1949; graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, W.Va.; A.B., Duke University, Durham, N.C., 1971; attended graduate school, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1972; staff, Office of the Majority Whip, United States Senate, 1971-1974; business owner; delegate, Democratic National Conventions, 1972 and 1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the eighteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress in 2014; chair, Committee on Natural Resources (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses).

<p>Nicholas Joseph Rahall II (born May 20, 1949) is an American former politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as a U.S. Representative from West Virginia from 1977 to 2015. He is the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of Representatives from the state of West Virginia.</p>

<p>From 1977 to 1993, he served the now-defunct 4th congressional district. From 1993 to 2015, he served the 3rd congressional district. His district included the southern, coal-dominated portion of the state, including Huntington, Bluefield, and Beckley. Rahall was the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure</p>

<p>Rahall lost a bid for re-election to Congress in 2014, losing to West Virginia State Senator Evan Jenkins. As of 2021, he is the last Democrat to have represented West Virginia in the House of Representatives.</p>