Nathan Biah | |
---|---|
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 3rd district | |
Assumed office January 5, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Moira Walsh |
Personal details | |
Born | Monrovia, Liberia | December 14, 1971
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Thumbelina Biah [1] |
Alma mater | Rhode Island College |
Nathan W. Biah Sr. (born December 14, 1971) [2] is an American politician and educator who serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 3rd district. [3]
Born and raised in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, Biah was his parents' only child. [4] Biah was sent to a preparatory school considered one of the "most prestigious" in Liberia, but his education was interrupted by the First Liberian Civil War, which caused Biah to emigrate to the United States. [4] In 1999, he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Rhode Island College, and in 2007, Biah received a master's degree in education from University of Rhode Island. [5]
Biah announced a primary challenge to incumbent representative Moira Walsh in 2020. Walsh, a staunch progressive, had been an opponent of Speaker of the Rhode Island House Nicholas Mattiello, who thus supported Biah. [6] Biah was also endorsed by Rhode Island Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization. [7] In contrast to most other successful primaries in the 2020 Rhode Island House elections, where progressives had ousted allies of Mattiello, [6] Biah defeated Walsh 64–35, and was unopposed in the general election. [8] He currently serves on the Innovation, Internet, and Technology Committee, the Finance Committee, which produces the state budget and the Education Committee. [9]
He had originally declared his candidacy for US Representative of Rhode Island's 1st congressional district in March 2023, [9] but has since withdrawn as a candidate and will not appear on the ballot for the special Democratic primary for U.S. representative of the 1st congressional district to be held on September 5, 2023. [5]
Nathan Biah | |
---|---|
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 3rd district | |
Assumed office January 5, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Moira Walsh |
Personal details | |
Born | Monrovia, Liberia | December 14, 1971
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Thumbelina Biah [1] |
Alma mater | Rhode Island College |
Nathan W. Biah Sr. (born December 14, 1971) [2] is an American politician and educator who serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 3rd district. [3]
Born and raised in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, Biah was his parents' only child. [4] Biah was sent to a preparatory school considered one of the "most prestigious" in Liberia, but his education was interrupted by the First Liberian Civil War, which caused Biah to emigrate to the United States. [4] In 1999, he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Rhode Island College, and in 2007, Biah received a master's degree in education from University of Rhode Island. [5]
Biah announced a primary challenge to incumbent representative Moira Walsh in 2020. Walsh, a staunch progressive, had been an opponent of Speaker of the Rhode Island House Nicholas Mattiello, who thus supported Biah. [6] Biah was also endorsed by Rhode Island Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization. [7] In contrast to most other successful primaries in the 2020 Rhode Island House elections, where progressives had ousted allies of Mattiello, [6] Biah defeated Walsh 64–35, and was unopposed in the general election. [8] He currently serves on the Innovation, Internet, and Technology Committee, the Finance Committee, which produces the state budget and the Education Committee. [9]
He had originally declared his candidacy for US Representative of Rhode Island's 1st congressional district in March 2023, [9] but has since withdrawn as a candidate and will not appear on the ballot for the special Democratic primary for U.S. representative of the 1st congressional district to be held on September 5, 2023. [5]