View source for Nick Rahall

{{Short description|American politician (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Nick Rahall
|image         = Nick Rahall.jpg
|office        = Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]
|term_start    = January 3, 2011
|term_end      = January 3, 2015
|predecessor   = [[John Mica]]
|successor     = [[Peter DeFazio]]
|office1       = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]
|term_start1   = January 3, 2007
|term_end1     = January 3, 2011
|predecessor1  = [[Richard Pombo]]
|successor1    = [[Doc Hastings]]
|office2       = Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]
|term_start2   = January 3, 2001
|term_end2     = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2  = [[George Miller (California politician)|George Miller]]
|successor2    = [[Don Young]]
|state3        = [[West Virginia]]
|term_start3   = January 3, 1977
|term_end3     = January 3, 2015
|predecessor3  = [[Ken Hechler]]
|successor3    = [[Evan Jenkins (politician)|Evan Jenkins]]
|constituency3 = {{ushr|WV|4|C}} (1977–1993)<br>{{ushr|WV|3|C}} (1993–2015)
|birth_name    = Nicholas Joseph Rahall II
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1949|5|20}}
|birth_place   = [[Beckley, West Virginia]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse        = Melinda Rahall (second wife)
|education     = [[Duke University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[George Washington University]]
|module        = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes|filename=Rep. Nick Rahall Speaks on the 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.ogg |title=Rahall's voice| type=speech |description=Rahall on the [[2006 Sago Mine disaster]].<br>Recorded February 8, 2006}}
}}
'''Nicholas Joseph Rahall II''' ({{IPAc-en|r|eɪ|'|h|ɑː|l}} {{Respell|RAY|hall}}; born May 20, 1949) is an American politician and member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] who served in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1977 to 2015. He is the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of Representatives from the state of [[West Virginia]].

He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate, as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971–1974, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent the now-defunct [[West Virginia's 4th congressional district|4th congressional district]]. He became the representative for the [[West Virginia's 3rd congressional district|3rd congressional district]] when reapportionment was completed following the 1990 census. He was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 2015.

His district included the southern, coal-dominated portion of the state,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/news/article/west-virginia-senate-democrats-look-for-winner|title=West Virginia Senate: Democrats Look for Winner|publisher=[[The Rothenberg Political Report]]|author=Nathan L. Gonzales|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref> including [[Huntington, West Virginia|Huntington]], [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]], and [[Beckley, West Virginia|Beckley]]. Rahall was the Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]].

Rahall lost re-election in 2014 to [[Evan Jenkins (politician)|Evan Jenkins]].<ref name="thehill.com">{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia/|title=Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years|author=Timothy Cama|work=The Hill|date=November 5, 2014 }}</ref><ref name=results>{{cite news|title=Mooney wins crowded GOP House primary; Capito, Tennant to face off in W.Va. Senate race|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mooney-wins-crowded-gop-house-primary-capito-tennant-to-face-off-in-w-va-senate-race|access-date=May 23, 2014|publisher=Fox News|date=May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name=retire>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/202754-report-rahall-considered-retirement/|title=Report: Rep. Nick Rahall considered retirement|author=Kyle Balluck|work=The Hill|date=April 6, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> {{As of|{{CURRENTYEAR}}}}, he is the last Democrat to have represented [[West Virginia]] in the [[US House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].

==Early life, education, and early career==
Rahall was born in [[Beckley, West Virginia]], the son of Mary Alice and Nicholas Joseph Rahall.<ref name=candidate>{{cite web|url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H|title=Election 2012; Nick Rahall (D); U.S. Representative – WV3|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hin.stparchive.com/Archive/HIN/HIN04231996P01.php|title=Page 1|date=April 23, 1996}}</ref> He is a [[Presbyterian]] of [[Protestantism in Lebanon|Lebanese Protestant]] descent, whose grandparents immigrated from Lebanon.<ref name=pbs>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/house-passes-resolution-backing-israel|title=House Passes Resolution Backing Israel|work=PBS NewsHour|date=July 20, 2006|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-passes-pro-israel-resolution|title=House Passes Pro-Israel Resolution|author=Melissa McNamara|date=July 20, 2006|publisher=CBS News|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323838204578654401611487128|author=Kristina Peterson|title=Some Democrats Waver on Immigration|date=August 8, 2013|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/18/world/house-panel-approves-20-million-to-lebanon.html|title=HOUSE PANEL APPROVES $20 MILLION TO LEBANON|author=Bernarnd Weinraub|date=June 18, 1982|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

His family owned radio station [[WWNR]], which his father started with his uncles Farris, Sam, and Deem, and expanded to own other radio stations in a number of states.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.register-herald.com/news/article_60c4bdf6-db8c-5d70-b7fe-76c3b9b96cf8.html?mode=jqm|title=Former W.Va. governor Hulett Smith passes at 93|author= Mannix Porterfield|work=Register Herald|date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name=page>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/40957541|page=26|work=Beckley Post-Herald; The Raleigh Register from Beckley, West Virginia|date=November 14, 1971|title=WWNR|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

Rahall graduated in 1971 from [[Duke University]]. He attended graduate school at the [[George Washington University]], but did not graduate.<ref name=candidate/> He then worked as a sales rep for his family's radio station, WWNR.<ref name=candidate/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pollvault.com/polls/candidate/33754|title=Nick Rahall for The United States House of Representatives WV3|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082743/https://www.pollvault.com/polls/candidate/33754|url-status=dead}}</ref> He served as president of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency in 1974, and was president of West Virginia Broadcasting.<ref name=candidate/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2014-02-18/html/CDIR-2014-02-18-WV-H-3.htm|title=Congressional Directory for the 113th Congress (2013–14), February 2014|pages=289–90|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

He went to work as staff assistant for the late [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Robert Byrd]] who he identifies as a mentor.<ref name= "politico">{{cite web|last=Martinson|first=Erica|title=Coal fires up West Virginia House race|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/nick-rahall-west-virginia-2014-elections-epa-coal-regulation-108312.html |date=June 26, 2014|publisher=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref name= "heralddispatch">{{cite web|last=Huber|first=Tim|title=Rahall, Maynard spar in debate|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x1769794131/Rahall-Maynard-spar-in-debate|date=October 26, 2010|publisher=Herald Dispatch}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
;1970s–90s
[[File:Nick Rahall 1977 congressional photo.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Rahall during his first term in Congress]]
Rahall was elected to Congress in 1976 in the 4th district, succeeding [[Ken Hechler]] who ran for [[governor of West Virginia|governor]]. Rahall won the district primary with a plurality of 38%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=403634|title= WV District 4 – D Primary Race – May 11, 1976|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> Hechler lost the primary for governor, and attempted a write-in campaign for the congressional seat. Rahall won the general election with 46% of the vote, while Hechler got 37%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=31677|title=WV District 4 Race|date=November 2, 1976|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:President_Bush_Signs_the_Magnuson-Stevens_Fishery_Conservation_and_Management_Reauthorization_Act_of_2006.jpg|thumb|left|Rahall watching [[President (government title)|President]] [[George W. Bush]] prepare to the sign the [[Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act]] Re-authorization act on January 12, 2007.]]

In 1978, Hechler challenged Rahall in the Democratic primary, and Rahall won with 56% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=59888|title= WV District 4 – D Primary Race|date=May 9, 1978|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> He was re-elected 17 times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=1937|title=Candidate – Nick Joe Rahall II|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> Hechler later became the [[West Virginia Secretary of State]], and ran against Rahall in the primary in 1990. Rahall defeated him, receiving 57% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=375887|title=WV District 4 – D Primary Race|date=May 8, 1990|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

In 1990, Rahall defeated Republican insurance agent Marianne Brewster with just 52% of the vote, the second-lowest winning percentage of his career.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56031910.html?dids=56031910:56031910&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08%2C+1990&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Final+election+results%3A+Pennsylvania+through+Wyoming+%28including+U.S.+territories%29&pqatl=google | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713201817/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56031910.html?dids=56031910:56031910&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08,+1990&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Final+election+results:+Pennsylvania+through+Wyoming+(including+U.S.+territories)&pqatl=google | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 13, 2012 | work=USA TODAY | title=Final election results: Pennsylvania through Wyoming (including U.S. territories) | date=November 8, 1990 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=34764|title= WV District 4 Race – Nov 6, 1990|publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date= October 2, 2014}}</ref> The district was redrawn after the [[1990 United States census|1990 census]], becoming the 3rd district, due to changes to the state's population.
{{clear|left}}
;2010
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia#District 3}}

In 2010, he defeated Republican former State Supreme Court Justice [[Spike Maynard]] with 56% of the vote, his lowest percentage since 1990.<ref name="2010elected">{{cite news|title=Rahall is elected to 18th straight term in Congress|first=Jim|last=Workman|newspaper=The Register-Herald|date=November 3, 2010|url=http://www.register-herald.com/todaysfrontpage/x104125545/Rahall-is-elected-to-18th-straight-term-in-Congress|access-date=November 4, 2010|location=Beckley, WV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_43/Snuffer-Moves-Toward-Bid-for-Rahall-Seat-209552-1.html?pos=hln|title=Snuffer Moves Toward Bid for Rahall Seat|author=Joshua Miller|date=October 18, 2011|work=Roll Call|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303044045/http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_43/Snuffer-Moves-Toward-Bid-for-Rahall-Seat-209552-1.html?pos=hln|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;2012
{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia#District 3}}
In the 2012 election, Rahall defeated Republican [[Rick Snuffer]] with 53.5% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=West Virginia Congressional District 3 election results|url=http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/west-virginia/house/3/|work=Decision 2012|date=December 2, 2011 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> His eight-point margin of victory was his narrowest since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/195879-west-virginia-veteran-to-run-for-house-seat/|title=Manchin's State of Union guest to challenge Rep. Nick Rahall|date=January 18, 2014|author= Justin Sink|work=The Hill|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

;2014
{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia#District 3}}

In 2014, Rahall faced a primary challenge from fellow Democrat and retired Army officer [[Richard Ojeda]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mooney-wins-crowded-gop-house-primary-capito-tennant-to-face-off-in-w-va-senate-race|title=Mooney wins crowded GOP House primary; Capito, Tennant to face off in W.Va. Senate race|work=Fox News|date= May 13, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> Rahall won the primary with 66.4% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvillustrated.com/story/25508919/rahall-jenkins-set-to-face-off-in-3rd-district-congressional-race|title=Rahall, Jenkins set to face off in 3rd District Congressional Race |author=Jim Workman|date=May 13, 2014|publisher=West Virginia Illustrated|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

He faced Republican State Senator [[Evan Jenkins (politician)|Evan Jenkins]] in the November general election.<ref name=results/> Jenkins had served in the state legislature for 20 years as a Democrat, but had switched parties. Jenkins and Rahall had contributed to each other's campaigns in the decade's previous election cycles.<ref name="Contributions">{{cite news|url=http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statenews/201307290182|title=Nick Rahall, Evan Jenkins contributed to each other's campaigns|work=[[Charleston Daily Mail]]|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=October 6, 2014|author=Boucher, Dave|archive-date=October 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009132541/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statenews/201307290182|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rahall was considered one of the most "endangered" House Democrats by the House Democratic campaign committee.<ref name="results"/><ref name=retire/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/nick-rahall-political-survival-west-virginia-2014|title=Nick Rahall Bets Political Survival on Local Brand|work=At the Races; Roll Call|author=Abby Livingston|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003185121/http://atr.rollcall.com/nick-rahall-political-survival-west-virginia-2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He received an endorsement from the NRA.<ref name=nra>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20140918/dm01/140919211|title=NRA endorses Nick Rahall for Congress|publisher=Charleston Daily Mail|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

As of September 18, 2014, the race was rated a "toss up" by both University of Virginia political professor [[Larry Sabato]], of [[Sabato's Crystal Ball]], and [[Stu Rothenberg]] of the Rothenberg Political Report.<ref name=nra/> As of October 2, managing editor Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball said the race was still a toss-up, calling it "Super close, super expensive and super nasty."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2014/10/02/looking-into-the-crystal-ball/|title= Looking into the Crystal Ball|publisher=West Virginia Metro News|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/ratings/house|title=House Ratings|publisher= The Rothenberg Political Report|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>  The Rahall campaign outspent the Jenkins campaign in the election by a two-to-one ratio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/midterm-elections-2014-live-updates/story?id=26570502|title=Republicans Projected To Seize Control Of The Senate: 2014 Midterm Elections Results Live|author=ABC News|work=ABC News}}</ref>

Ultimately, Rahall was defeated, with 44.7% of the vote to Jenkins' 55.3% of the vote. In the process, he lost a number of areas that had reliably supported him for years.<ref name="thehill.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia/|title=Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years|author=Timothy Cama|work=TheHill|date=November 5, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pear |first1=-Robert |url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2014/west-virginia-elections|title=West Virginia Election Results|work=The New York Times }}</ref>

Having served 19 terms in the House, the 65-year-old Rahall qualified for a [[Congressional pension]] of about $139,000 a year.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://money.cnn.com/2014/11/05/retirement/congressional-pensions |title= Fat pensions for outgoing lawmakers | first= Chris |last=Isidore |work= [[CNNMoney]] | date= November 6, 2014 | access-date= November 6, 2014}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*[[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]] (Ranking Member)
**[[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation|Subcommittee on Aviation]]
**[[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit|Subcommittee on Highways and Transit]]
**[[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials|Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials]]

==Political issues==

Rahall was a member of the conservative [[Blue Dog Democrat]] coalition.

===Mining===
In 2010 Rahall introduced legislation to improve mine safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sam HananelAssociated Press |title=Congress proposes mine bill to crack down on repeat violators |url=https://www.register-herald.com/news/congress-proposes-mine-bill-to-crack-down-on-repeat-violators/article_b5b04e8c-3169-514f-853f-ee5819c6200f.html |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Beckley Register-Herald |date=June 30, 2010 |language=en}}</ref> Rahall opposed legislation designed to end [[mountaintop removal mining]], a process often used in West Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lillis|first=Mike|title=Rahall takes sole credit for blocking bill to end mountaintop mining|work=The Hill|date=October 17, 2010|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/72848-rahall-takes-sole-credit-for-blocking-bill-to-end-mountaintop-mining/|access-date=October 17, 2010}}</ref>

Rahall's policies involving mountaintop removal mining have been criticized as reflected by author and journalist [[Jeff Biggers]] in "The Blog" in ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', with the link between mountaintop removal mining and flooding, as well as the billions of pounds of explosives used since 2004, being given as examples.<ref name="Ansel Adams">{{cite news|title=Should Wilderness Society Strip US Rep. Nick Rahall of the Ansel Adams Award?|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/should-wilderness-society_b_213108.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=July 10, 2009|first=Jeff|last=Biggers}}</ref>

===Environmental issues===
Rahall accepts anthropogenic [[climate change]] as real and has stated that to reject the [[Scientific opinion on climate change|scientific consensus regarding it]] is "to just put your head in the sand."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.register-herald.com/todaysfrontpage/x935815715/U-S-HOUSE-CANDIDATE-CONVERSATIONS-Nick-Rahall|title=U.S. HOUSE CANDIDATE CONVERSATIONS — Nick Rahall|date=October 14, 2010 |publisher=Register Herald|access-date=October 14, 2010}}</ref>

Rahall called the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] "callous", attacked [[Barack Obama]]'s greenhouse gas rule as "disastrous", and filed legislation to block the president's climate agenda, but in the summer of 2013 he attended a ceremony to rename the EPA headquarters and has praised EPA Administrator [[Gina McCarthy]].<ref name=politico/> Rahall, alongside three other Democrats, supported a GOP bill that would limit EPA authority on {{CO2}} emissions, the [[Energy Tax Prevention Act]]. He commented on this, saying: "I am dead set against the E.P.A.'s plowing ahead on its own with new regulations to limit greenhouse gases."<ref name=wapo1>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030302312.html|title=Dems join GOP in fight to block EPA climate rules|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> He also voted against the [[American Clean Energy and Security Act]].

In 2007, Rahall introduced the [[Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007]], which banned [[incandescent light bulb]]s. Despite introducing the legislation, Rahall voted against the bill on final passage. As a result of the legislation, as of January 1, 2014, incandescent light bulbs between 40 watts and 150 watts are illegal to manufacture or import.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

In 2013, Rahall voted for the [[Progressive Caucus|Progressive Caucus's]] budget, which included provisions for a carbon tax. The budget failed to pass.<ref>{{cite news|last=Boucher|first=David|title=Rahall to officially start re-election bid|url=http://blogs.charlestondailymail.com/capitolnotebook/2013/05/09/rahall-to-officially-start-re-election-bid/comment-page-1|access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=Charleston Daily Mail|date=September 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523230017/http://blogs.charlestondailymail.com/capitolnotebook/2013/05/09/rahall-to-officially-start-re-election-bid/comment-page-1/|archive-date=May 23, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kercheval|first=Hoppy|title=Rahall vote gives opponents ammo|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2013/05/01/rahall-vote-gives-opponents-ammo/|access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=West Virginia Metro News|date=January 5, 2013}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
Rahall and another Congressman of Arab descent traveled to Syria and ignored [[State Department]] policy by meeting with Palestinian leader [[Yasser Arafat]], whom Rahall had known for years.<ref name=candidate/> [[Queen Noor of Jordan]] presented Rahall with the first Najeeb Halaby Award for public service.<ref name=candidate/>

Rahall opposed the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. Rahall had traveled to Baghdad just before the Iraq War with the intention of convincing Iraqi leaders to allow the U.N. to inspect Iraq's weapons and have access to every site. He said that [[Tariq Aziz]] had accepted all of Bush's demands, and that "Bush said the war was not inevitable, but we now know that wasn't true. Iraqis did allow for complete access but Bush's mind was already made up. Iraqis were damned if they did and damned if they didn't .... We were falsely led into this war."<ref name=WRMEA/>

In 2004, it was reported that Rahall feared that Syria would be attacked by Bush before the November elections. He said that "They're using the same rhetoric against the Syrians they used against Iraqis.... We now have the Syrian Accountability Act. All this despite the State Department's admission that Syria helped us capture key al-Qaeda operatives and helped save American lives." As for Saudi Arabia, Rahall said that the U.S. "wouldn't dare" attack that country: "The Kingdom has been a key ally for decades."<ref name=WRMEA/>

===Israel===
Rahall has expressed concern about America's relationship with Israel. He said, "Israel can't continue to occupy, humiliate and destroy the dreams and spirits of the Palestinian people and continue to call itself a democratic state."<ref name=WRMEA>{{cite web|last=Hanley|first=Delinda|title=Congressman Nick Rahall Assesses Impact Of Iraq and Israel on U.S. Elections|url=http://www.wrmea.com/component/content/article/262/5275-congressman-nick-rahall-assesses-impact-of-iraq-and-israel-on-us-elections.html|date= June 2004|pages=29, 59|publisher=Washington Report on Middle East Affairs|access-date=April 21, 2012}}</ref>

Rahall, along with other Lebanese-American lawmakers, expressed concern with a bipartisan resolution supporting [[Israel]] in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]] without adding language urging restraint against civilian targets. He helped draft a resolution that urged "all parties to protect innocent life and civilian infrastructure."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501324.html?nav=rss_politics |title=Congress Cautioned On Support of Israel |newspaper=Washington Post|date= July 26, 2006|access-date=July 12, 2010 | first=Jonathan | last=Weisman}}</ref>

Rahall was the only member of the House to oppose the 1993 resolution urging Arab states to end their [[Arab boycott of Israel|boycott of Israel]].<ref name=sib/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXLHAAAAQBAJ&q=nick+rahall+israel&pg=PA91|author=Sarah Stern|title=Saudi Arabia and the Global Islamic Terrorist Network: America and the West's Fatal Embrace|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |date= 2011|access-date=October 2, 2014|isbn=9780230370715}}</ref>

Rahall was the most senior of five [[Arab American]] lawmakers on Capitol Hill.<ref name=sib>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-17-na-rahall17-story.html|date=June 17, 2004|first=Chuck|last= Neubauer|title=A Sibling Symbiosis in the Capitol; A lobbyist for Qatar is sister to a congressman who is a key advocate for the Arab monarchy|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/transportation-and-infrastructure-committee/for-rahall-representation-means-fighting-for-resources-20130724|first=Rebecca|last=Kaplan|title=For Rahall, Representation Means Fighting for Resources|work=National Journal|date=July 24, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102845/http://www.nationaljournal.com/transportation-and-infrastructure-committee/for-rahall-representation-means-fighting-for-resources-20130724|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Endorsement of Barack Obama===
In 2008, Rahall endorsed [[Barack Obama]], saying Obama understood the needs and aspirations of West Virginians. He was also Chair of the Arab Americans for Obama group.<ref>{{Cite web
  | title = Rahall endorses Barack Obama
  | publisher = The Herald Dispatch
  | date = March 6, 2008
  | url = http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/x1487405479
  | access-date = November 18, 2013}}</ref> Explaining his position, Rahall cited Senator Byrd, who said "I work for no President. I work with Presidents."<ref name="CSPAN">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CSPAN_20101028_210000_U.S._House_of_Representatives|title=C-SPAN Today in Washington |date=October 28, 2010 |publisher=[[C-SPAN]]|access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> In an interview with [[Keith Olbermann]], Rahall said that Obama had the courage and conviction to win the presidency, and that the then-senator was a true agent for change.<ref>[http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc/24604032#24604032 MSNBC]{{dead link|date=November 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc/24604032#24604032{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Ethical issues===
In 2004, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' ran an article about Rahall and his sister, lobbyist Tanya Rahall. They reported that she made $15,000 per month as a [[lobbyist]] for [[Qatar]], and that "the person she frequently lobbies is ... her older brother and one of Qatar's biggest champions in Washington." Rahall said "our paths cross professionally, but not across any lines appropriately established by law or House rules."<ref name=sib/> In May 2003, a year after his sister took on Qatar as a client, Rahall sponsored a resolution praising Qatar's "years of democratic reform"; according to one academic study from 2011, "For over three years, the country [Qatar] virtually had its own congressman in Washington, Nick Rahall (D-WV)".<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXLHAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA91|title=Saudi Arabia and the Global Islamic Terrorist Network|publisher=Palgrave MacMillan|chapter=The Saudi Penetration into American NGOs|first1=Kyle|last1=Shiderer|first2=Ilan|last2=Weinglass|date=November 3, 2011|pages=81–104|isbn=9780230370715|editor1-first=Sarah|editor1-last=Stern|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

In February 2005, Rahall used Congressional stationery to write a letter to a [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]] judge, David Stitt, asking for leniency for his son, Nick Rahall III, who was facing [[felony]] robbery charges. According to the House ethics manual: "Official stationery ... may be used only for official purposes." Rahall acknowledged that he should not have used Congressional stationery for his letter, but said it was not the same type that he uses for official or committee business. Rahall added he may have drawn the wrong paper "[i]n the emotions", and that he would reimburse the Treasury Department for the cost of the paper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/08/rahall-plea-for-son-raises-questions-041002|title=Questions raised about Nick Rahall helping son|publisher=Politico|author=John Bresnahan|date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=August 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gOM2iJE7aLkxUUMwsRwn0VcNeCbwD9HI7LOG0|title=Democrat Nick Rahall misused official stationery|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=August 13, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/100592614.html|title=Rahall Admits to Using Congressional Stationary to ask Judge for Favor|date=August 12, 2010|publisher=WSAZ News Channel 3|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006064930/http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/100592614.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[United States House Committee on Ethics]] did not launch an inquiry into the incident.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pergram|first=Chad|title=Second Congressman allegedly misuses stationary|publisher=Fox News|date=August 12, 2010|url=http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/12/second-congressman-allegedly-misuses-house-stationery|access-date=October 16, 2010|archive-date=July 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726125306/http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/12/second-congressman-allegedly-misuses-house-stationery|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rahall was one of seven Democrats and twelve Republicans listed by [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] in its annual "Most Corrupt Members of Congress Report" in 2011.<ref name=most>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statenews/201109203086|title=Rahall on list of most corrupt Congresspeople|date=September 21, 2011|author=Jared Hunt|publisher=Charleston Daily Mail|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120858/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statenews/201109203086|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rep.+Nick+Rahall+%28D-WV%29+Named+One+of+the+Most+Corrupt+Members+of...-a0267424762|title=Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) Named One of the Most Corrupt Members of Congress|date=2011|access-date=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081959/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rep.+Nick+Rahall+%28D-WV%29+Named+One+of+the+Most+Corrupt+Members+of...-a0267424762|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Melanie Sloan]], CREW's executive director, said: "Rep. Rahall abused his position to help his son and sister in clear violation of the House ethics rules." Rahall's spokeswoman said: "There is as little merit to these allegations today as there was then."<ref name=most/>

==Electoral history==
{{s-start}}
|+ {{ushr|West Virginia|4|}}: Results 1976–90<ref name="clerk">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html|title=Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics|publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives}}</ref>
! Year
!
! Democrat
! Votes
! %
!
! Republican
! Votes
! %
!
! Third Party
! Party
! Votes
! %
!
|-
|[[United States House election, 1976|1976]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |73,626
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |46%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |E. S. Goodman
|{{party shading/Republican}} |28,825
|{{party shading/Republican}} |18%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Ken Hechler]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ([[Write-in candidate|write-in]])
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |59,067
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |37%
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1978|1978]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |70,035
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |100%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1980|1980]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |117,595
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |77%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Winton Covey
|{{party shading/Republican}} |36,020
|{{party shading/Republican}} |23%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1982|1982]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |91,184
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |81%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Homer Harris
|{{party shading/Republican}} |22,054
|{{party shading/Republican}} |19%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1984|1984]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |98,919
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |67%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Jess Shumate
|{{party shading/Republican}} |49,474
|{{party shading/Republican}} |33%
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1986|1986]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |58,217
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |71%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Martin Miller
|{{party shading/Republican}} |23,490
|{{party shading/Republican}} |29%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1988|1988]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |78,812
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |61%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Marianne Brewster
|{{party shading/Republican}} |49,753
|{{party shading/Republican}} |39%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1990|1990]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |39,948
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |52%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |David Morrill
|{{party shading/Republican}} |36,946
|{{party shading/Republican}} |48%
|
|
|
|
|
|
{{s-end}}

{{s-start}}
|+ {{ushr|West Virginia|3|}}: Results 1992–2014<ref name="clerk"/><ref name="fedelect">{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/electionresults.shtml|title=Election Results|publisher=Federal Election Commission }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide |title=General Election – November 6, 2012 – Official Results |publisher=[[Secretary of State of West Virginia]] |access-date=June 19, 2013}}</ref>
! Year
!
! Democrat
! Votes
! %
!
! Republican
! Votes
! %
!
! Third Party
! Party
! Votes
! %
!
|-
|[[United States House election, 1992|1992]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |122,279
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |66%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Ben Waldman
|{{party shading/Republican}} |64,012
|{{party shading/Republican}} |34%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1994|1994]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |74,967
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |64%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Ben Waldman
|{{party shading/Republican}} |42,382
|{{party shading/Republican}} |36%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1996|1996]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |145,550 
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |100%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 1998|1998]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |78,814
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |87%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |Joe Whelan
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |12,196
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |13%
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2000|2000]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |146,807
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |91%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |Jeff Robinson
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |13,979
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |9%
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2002|2002]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |87,783
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |70%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Paul Chapman
|{{party shading/Republican}} |37,229
|{{party shading/Republican}} |30%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2004|2004]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |142,682
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |65%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Rick Snuffer]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |76,170
|{{party shading/Republican}} |35%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2006|2006]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |92,413
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |69%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Kim Wolfe
|{{party shading/Republican}} |40,820
|{{party shading/Republican}} |31%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2008|2008]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |133,522
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |67%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Marty Gearheart]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |66,005
|{{party shading/Republican}} |33%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2010|2010]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |83,636
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |56%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Spike Maynard]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |65,611
|{{party shading/Republican}} |44%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House election, 2012|2012]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Nick Rahall'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |108,199
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |54%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Rick Snuffer]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |92,238
|{{party shading/Republican}} |46%
|-
|[[United States House of Representatives elections, 2014|2014]]
||
|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Nick Rahall
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |62,309
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |45%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} | '''[[Evan Jenkins (politician)|Evan Jenkins]]'''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |77,170
|{{party shading/Republican}} |55%
|
|
|
|
|
|
{{s-end}}

==Personal life==
Rahall and his second wife, Melinda Ross of Ashland, Kentucky, married in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/50_58/-7692-1.html|author=Mary Ann Akers|title=Member Nuptials|work=Roll Call|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070730/http://www.rollcall.com/issues/50_58/-7692-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They have three children from his previous marriage, and three grandchildren.<ref name=candidate/><ref name=Biography>{{cite web|title=Biography|publisher=rahall.house.gov|url=http://rahall.house.gov/about-me/full-biography|access-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829191621/http://rahall.house.gov/about-me/full-biography|archive-date=August 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nickrahall.com/about|title=About Nick Rahall – Nick Rahall for U.S. Congress|publisher=nickrahall.com|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

In 2008, Rahall appeared on an episode of ''[[Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives]]'' which featured Hillbilly Hot Dogs of [[Lesage, West Virginia]]. Rahall introduced the hot dog that's named after him on the menu, Rahall's Red Hot Weenie.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lavender|first=Dave|title=Hillbilly Hot Dogs owners featured in host's cookbook and best of episode|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/life/x221549205/Hillbilly-Hot-Dogs-owners-featured-in-hosts-cookbook-and-best-of-episode|access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV)|date=October 29, 2008}}</ref>

In July 2009, Rahall jumped out of a plane to show his support for the coal industry. The event was intended to show the importance of the coal industry to both West Virginia and the United States as a whole. The act confused some, who questioned the reasoning behind the jump. It was noted that Rahall is involved with coal lobbyists and also receives contributions from the airline industry.<ref name="Plane for Coal">{{cite news|title=Nick Rahall Jumps From a Plane for Coal. Here's Why.|url=http://washingtonindependent.com/51792/nick-rahall-jumps-from-a-plane-for-coal-heres-why|newspaper=Washington Independent|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828162304/http://washingtonindependent.com/51792/nick-rahall-jumps-from-a-plane-for-coal-heres-why|archive-date=August 28, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Coal Lobby">{{cite news|title=Rep. Nick Rahall Jumps Out Of A Plane For The Coal Lobby|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/20/rep-nick-rahall-jumps-out_n_241419.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=August 20, 2009|first=Katherine|last=Goldstein}}</ref>

After leaving office, he became involved in political reform efforts, including joining nine other former members of Congress to co-author a 2021 opinion editorial advocating reforms of Congress.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/rahall-graves-we-know-congress-needs-reform-opinion/article_4d2ac1df-9a73-5d2d-8c84-bfdbf4277157.html | title=We Know Congress Needs Reform | newspaper=West Virginia Gazette| date=August 13, 2021 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Arab and Middle-Eastern Americans in the United States Congress]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[[West Virginia & Regional History Center]] at [[West Virginia University]], [https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/resources/4 Congressman Nick J. Rahall II papers]
* {{CongLinks | congbio=r000011 | votesmart=27133 | fec=H6WV04057 | congress=nick-rahall/940 }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Nick_Rahall Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400331 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400331 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/536.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00002198 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/nick-rahall Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/434/Rep_Nick_Joe_Rahall_II.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Nick_Rahall.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/np-rahall,%20nick Works by or about Nick Rahall] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/8272 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3003478 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQAtE0HAP_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
*{{C-SPAN|8272}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ken Hechler]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from West Virginia|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[West Virginia's 4th congressional district]]|years=1977–1993}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Bob Wise]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from West Virginia|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[West Virginia's 3rd congressional district]]|years=1993–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Evan Jenkins (politician)|Evan Jenkins]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[George Miller (California politician)|George Miller]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]|years=2001–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Don Young]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Pombo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]|years=2007–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Doc Hastings]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Mica]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]|years=2011–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter DeFazio]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Waxman]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pete Visclosky]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{US House Natural Resources chairs}}
{{WestVirginiaUSRepresentatives}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=95th–113th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from West Virginia|West Virginia]]}}
{{USCongRep/WV/95}}
{{USCongRep/WV/96}}
{{USCongRep/WV/97}}
{{USCongRep/WV/98}}
{{USCongRep/WV/99}}
{{USCongRep/WV/100}}
{{USCongRep/WV/101}}
{{USCongRep/WV/102}}
{{USCongRep/WV/103}}
{{USCongRep/WV/104}}
{{USCongRep/WV/105}}
{{USCongRep/WV/106}}
{{USCongRep/WV/107}}
{{USCongRep/WV/108}}
{{USCongRep/WV/109}}
{{USCongRep/WV/110}}
{{USCongRep/WV/111}}
{{USCongRep/WV/112}}
{{USCongRep/WV/113}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahall, Nick}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:20th-century West Virginia politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century West Virginia politicians]]
[[Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:American radio executives]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Beckley, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia]]
[[Category:Duke University alumni]]
[[Category:George Washington University alumni]]
[[Category:Lebanese Protestants]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern Christians]]
[[Category:Politicians from Beckley, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Presbyterians from West Virginia]]
[[Category:Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley, West Virginia) alumni]]