Nathan Biah
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 theRhode Island House of Representativesfor the 3rd district.[3]
Early life[edit]
Born and raised inMonrovia,the capital ofLiberia,Biah was his parents' only child.[4]Biah was sent to apreparatory schoolconsidered one of the "most prestigious" in Liberia, but his education was interrupted by theFirst Liberian Civil War,which caused Biah to emigrate to the United States.[4]In 1999, he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice fromRhode Island College,and in 2007, Biah received a master's degree in education fromUniversity of Rhode Island.[5]
Political career[edit]
Biah announced a primary challenge to incumbent representativeMoira Walshin2020.Walsh, a staunchprogressive,had been an opponent of Speaker of the Rhode Island HouseNicholas Mattiello,who thus supported Biah.[6]Biah was also endorsed by Rhode Island Right to Life, ananti-abortionorganization.[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declared his candidacy for US Representative ofRhode Island's 1st congressional districtin March 2023,[9]but has since withdrawn as a candidate and will not appear on the ballot for the special Democratic primary for U.S. representative of the 1st congressional district to be held on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]
References[edit]
- ^Admin (November 6, 2020)."They Escaped Civil War; Now they have Captured Public Office".Liberian Daily Observer.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^"Press release".rilegislature.gov.
- ^Gregg, Katherine (January 3, 2021)."Political Scene: What do a taxi driver, theater teacher, children's book author have in common?".The Providence Journal.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^abList, Madeleine (October 24, 2020)."For RI House candidate Nathan Biah, hardship inspired zeal to serve others".The Providence Journal.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^abhttps://ballotpedia.org/Nathan_BiahBallotpedia, retrieved July 25, 2023
- ^abAhlquist, Steve (September 9, 2020)."Progressives hopeful as big General Assembly wins seem to be happening".Uprise RI.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^Anderson, Patrick (September 13, 2020)."Political Scene: Progressive wins will be felt at General Assembly".The Providence Journal.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^"Nathan Biah".Ballotpedia.RetrievedJanuary 12,2021.
- ^abhttps:// bostonglobe /2023/03/27/metro/ri-representative-nathan-biah-running-congress/Boston Globe, by Edward Fitzpatrick, March 27, 2023, retrieved July 25, 2023
- American politicians of Liberian descent
- Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Living people
- 1971 births
- Rhode Island College alumni
- 21st-century American legislators
- Liberian emigrants to the United States
- Politicians from Monrovia
- African-American state legislators in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island politician stubs