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Rob Woodall
Rob Woodall
from Wikipedia

William Robert Woodall III[1] (/ˈwʊdɔːl/ WUUD-awl; born February 11, 1970)[2] is an American attorney and politician who was the U.S. representative for Georgia's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2021. The district included most of Gwinnett County, a suburban county northeast of Atlanta. A Republican, Woodall prior to being elected to Congress, worked for his predecessor, John Linder from 1994 to 2010, eventually becoming Linder's chief of staff.

Key Information

Early life, education, and career

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Woodall was born in Athens, Georgia.[3] He attended both public and private grade schools, graduating from Marist School in 1988. He received a B.A. from Furman University followed by law school at the University of Georgia School of Law.[4] While attending law school, he spent summers working in a Washington, D.C. law firm. He left law school after the summer of 1994 to work for his hometown U.S. Representative, John Linder,[3] where he began working as a legislative correspondent and eventually served as Linder's chief of staff in 2000.[5] Woodall received his J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998.[6] Woodall is a member of the Methodist Church.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

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2010 election

Woodall won the Republican primary with about 56% of the vote against Jody Hice.[8] He faced Democrat Doug Heckman in the 2010 General Election.[9] On November 2, 2010, Woodall defeated Heckman to win the general election.[10]

The top donors to Woodall's campaign were the Credit Union National Association, the Southern Company, the American Dental Association, and the Vision for Tomorrow Fund.[11]

Woodall addressed the U.S. House on October 26, 2011, calling for reduced regulations on businesses.[12]

2012 election

In 2012, Woodall won the election with 62.16% of the 252,066 votes cast, against Steve Reilly (D).[13]

2014 election

In 2014, Woodall won the election with 65.39% of the 173,669 votes cast, against Thomas D. Wight (D).[14]

2016 election

In 2016, Woodall won the election with 60.38% of the 288,301 votes cast, against Rashid Malik (D).[15]

2018 election

In 2018, Woodall faced Democratic challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux.[16] Woodall was supported by the Great America Committee, a political action committee registered by Vice President Mike Pence.[17] The race proved to be unexpectedly competitive, and Woodall defeated Bourdeaux by only 433 votes after a recount. The race was the closest of the 2018 House elections.[18][19] It was the closest that a Democrat has come to winning this district since its creation in 1993 (it was numbered as the 4th District from 1993 to 1997, the 11th from 1997 to 2003, and has been the 7th since 2003).

Tenure

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Woodall took office as part of the 112th United States Congress in January 2011. In July 2014, Woodall was elected chairman of the Republican Study Committee,[20] a group of conservative Republican lawmakers, succeeding Steve Scalise.[21] Woodall was replaced as chairman in November 2014 by Bill Flores (TX-17).

Woodall announced in February 2019 that he would not seek reelection to a sixth term in Congress.[22]

Committee assignments

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Political positions

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Economic issues

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Woodall supported tax reform and FairTax.[23]

He voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[24] After the passage of the bill, Woodall stated that it "marks tremendous progress and is the fulfillment of a commitment made to the American people."[23]

Woodall was one of only six House Republicans in the 112th Congress who did not sign Grover Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," stating that "my commitment to the Fair Tax and a common-sense tax overhaul makes it impossible for me to support the second component of the Pledge, which states that I must 'oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.'"[25][26]

Health care

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Woodall opposed the Affordable Care Act, voting to repeal it.[27]

Woodall co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life Act.[28]

LGBT rights

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Upon the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S., Woodall disagreed with the Supreme Court's approach to deciding the issue for the entire nation, rather than allowing states to make the decision individually.[29]

Gun rights

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Woodall was one of only six Republicans who opposed legislation that would require all states to honor the concealed weapons permits of other states, arguing that the bill was unnecessary because the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution already gives Americans the right to bear arms.[30]

Mueller investigation

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Woodall stated in June 2019 that he had not read the Mueller report about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.[31][32]

Electoral history

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Georgia's 7th Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Woodall 160,898 67.07
Democratic Doug Heckman 78,996 32.93
Total votes 239,894 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold
Georgia's 7th Congressional District Election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Woodall (incumbent) 156,689 62.16
Democratic Steve Riley 95,377 37.84
Total votes 252,066 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold
Georgia's 7th Congressional District Election (2014)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Woodall (incumbent) 113,557 65.39
Democratic Thomas Wight 60,112 34.61
Total votes 173,669 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold
Georgia's 7th Congressional District Election (2016)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Woodall (incumbent) 174,081 60.38
Democratic Rashid Malik 114,220 39.62
Total votes 288,301 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold
Georgia's 7th congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Woodall (incumbent) 140,430 50.08
Democratic Carolyn Bourdeaux 140,011 49.92
Total votes 280,441 100.0
Republican hold

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rob Woodall (born February 11, 1970) is an American attorney and who served as the U.S. Representative for from 2011 to 2021. A Republican, he focused on , government reform, and limiting federal overreach during his tenure in the . Born in , Woodall graduated from Marist School in in 1988, earned a B.A. from in 1992, and received a J.D. from the in 1998. Prior to entering , he worked as a staff member for U.S. Representative John Linder from 1994 to 2010, gaining experience in legislative operations. Elected in 2010 to succeed the retiring Linder, Woodall served five terms, sitting on the influential House Committee on Rules and the House Budget Committee, where he contributed to efforts on legislative procedures and federal spending restraint. Woodall's legislative record emphasized pro-life positions, including support for bans on federal funding for abortions and restrictions on late-term procedures, as well as opposition to expansive government roles in healthcare and recess appointments without congressional approval. He notably declined to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his first term, reflecting a pragmatic approach amid fiscal debates, though he aligned with conservative priorities on reducing deficits and promoting accountability. Facing a diversifying district after and a narrow 2018 reelection, Woodall announced in 2019 that he would not seek a sixth term, retiring at the end of the 116th Congress. His departure paved the way for the district to flip to Democratic control in 2020.

Early life, education, and early career

Early life and family background

William Robert Woodall III was born on February 11, 1970, in , . His full name, including the suffix "III," indicates a family tradition of naming successive generations William Robert Woodall. Woodall was raised in Georgia, where he attended a mix of public and private schools during his early years. Limited detail his background, with no verified information on his parents' professions or origins from congressional biographies or official profiles.

Education

Woodall graduated from Marist School, a private Catholic high school in , Georgia, in 1988. He then attended in , earning a degree in 1992. Following undergraduate studies, Woodall pursued legal education at the School of Law, where he received his degree in 1998. No public records indicate additional advanced degrees or specialized certifications beyond his legal training.

Pre-congressional professional experience

Prior to his election to , Rob Woodall served as a staff member in the office of U.S. Representative John Linder (R-GA), eventually rising to the position of . This role provided him with direct involvement in legislative operations, policy formulation, and constituent services within the . Woodall's service with Linder's office lasted 16 years, commencing around 1994 and concluding with Linder's retirement announcement in 2010. In this capacity, he supported Linder's priorities, including advocacy for tax reform measures such as the FairTax proposal, which aimed to replace federal income taxes with a national sales tax. No records indicate significant private sector employment or legal practice outside of his congressional staff positions during this period.

U.S. House of Representatives

2010 election and initial tenure

In the 2010 Republican primary for , Rob Woodall placed first on July 20 with 36% of the vote in a crowded field seeking to replace retiring incumbent John Linder. He advanced to and won the August 10 runoff against Chip Rogers. In the November 2 , Woodall defeated Democratic nominee Doug Heckman, securing victory in the solidly Republican district as part of the nationwide GOP gains in the midterm elections. Woodall was sworn into office on January 3, 2011, at the start of the 112th Congress. As a Tea Party-aligned freshman, he focused on fiscal restraint and from the outset. On January 5, 2011, he introduced H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2011, proposing to repeal the , payroll taxes, estate and gift taxes, and abolish the in favor of a national retail . During his initial tenure, Woodall supported H.R. 2 to fully repeal the Patient Protection and , voting yes on , 2011. He joined the , advocating for spending cuts and balanced budgets amid debates over the debt ceiling and the Budget Control Act of 2011. Woodall's early legislative efforts emphasized reducing federal spending and promoting consumption-based taxation to foster .

Re-elections, including 2018 contest

Woodall was reelected in the 2012 general election on November 6, defeating Democrat Steve Reilly with 156,689 votes (62.2 percent) to Reilly's 95,377 votes (37.8 percent), out of 252,066 total votes cast. In 2014, on November 4, he defeated Democrat Thomas Wight, receiving 113,557 votes (65.39 percent) against Wight's 60,112 votes (34.61 percent), from a total of 173,669 votes. Woodall's 2016 reelection on November 8 saw him prevail over Democrat Rashid Malik, 174,081 votes (60.4 percent) to 114,220 votes (39.6 percent), with 288,301 votes cast overall; neither candidate faced a primary opponent earlier that year. The on November 6 marked Woodall's closest reelection contest against Democrat , a professor and former Georgia state revenue commissioner who won a competitive Democratic primary featuring multiple candidates. Initial tallies indicated a slim Woodall lead of approximately 419 votes, leading Bourdeaux to request a recount under Georgia law for races decided by less than 0.5 percent. The machine recount, completed on November 21, certified Woodall's victory by 433 votes: 140,443 (50.1 percent) to Bourdeaux's 140,010 (49.9 percent), from 280,453 total votes. Bourdeaux conceded the following day. The razor-thin margin highlighted voter polarization in the suburban district, where Republican incumbents had previously held comfortable leads amid demographic changes and heightened Democratic turnout in the midterm cycle.

Committee assignments and roles

During his tenure in the 112th through 116th Congresses (2011–2021), Rob Woodall served as a member of the House Committee on Rules, where he participated in determining the terms under which reached the House floor. He also held assignments on the House Committee on the Budget, contributing to deliberations, including during periods of Republican minority status on the panel. Woodall was additionally assigned to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including service on its Subcommittees on and on Highways and Transit, focusing on matters such as federal aviation policy and surface transportation funding authorizations. These committee roles aligned with his emphasis on and infrastructure efficiency, though no formal leadership positions such as subcommittee chairmanships are recorded for him in standing committees.

Legislative record

Fiscal policy and economic initiatives

Woodall served on the House throughout his tenure, where he chaired the Subcommittee on , advocating for reforms to constrain federal spending and promote fiscal discipline. As a member of the 2010 Tea Party-aligned freshman class, he consistently prioritized deficit reduction, joining Republican calls in June 2011 for President Obama to propose specific spending cuts to address the growing national debt, emphasizing that "Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem." A cornerstone of Woodall's economic agenda was comprehensive , particularly the proposal to replace federal income, payroll, estate, and gift es with a national on new goods and services. He introduced H.R. 25, the Fair Act of 2011, in the 112th as the primary sponsor, aiming to shift the U.S. to a consumption-based at a proposed 23% rate inclusive of embedded es, which proponents argued would simplify compliance, boost , and eliminate IRS enforcement burdens. Woodall reintroduced versions of the bill in subsequent es and defended it publicly, stating in 2010 surveys that he supported eliminating the estate and fully replacing income es with es to incentivize saving and investment. In March 2016, he testified before the on transitioning from income-based to consumption-based taxation, arguing it would enhance competitiveness and job creation. Woodall supported the 2017 , which reduced corporate rates to 21% and individual rates across brackets, while doubling the ; he appeared on in October 2017 to promote the measure as pro-growth despite short-term deficit impacts, aligning with Republican goals of dynamic scoring to offset costs through expanded economic activity. On spending restraint, he backed House budget resolutions under , including the FY2015 blueprint (H.Con.Res. 96), which targeted $5.2 trillion in savings over a decade through reforms, though critics noted reliance on optimistic growth projections. His score of 71% in the 113th reflected votes against bloated appropriations like the $1.1 trillion omnibus but occasional support for continuing resolutions amid party-line pressures. Woodall opposed infrastructure funding increases tied to fuel tax hikes, arguing in op-eds that states like Georgia demonstrated efficient user-fee models without federal expansion.

Healthcare legislation

Woodall opposed the Patient Protection and (ACA), enacted in 2010, and supported multiple efforts to repeal or replace it. On January 19, 2011, he voted for H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Law Act, which sought full repeal and passed the 245-189 along party lines. In July 2012, he backed H.R. 6079, the Repeal of Obamacare Act, passing 244-185. He continued this pattern in May 2013 with a yes vote on H.R. 45, another full repeal measure, approved 229-195. In the 115th , Woodall supported the American Health Care Act (AHCA), H.R. 1628, which proposed repealing ACA mandates, reducing expansion, and introducing tax credits for purchases; it passed the 217-213 on May 4, 2017, with his affirmative vote. These positions aligned with Republican priorities to limit federal involvement in markets, though the AHCA stalled in the . Beyond ACA opposition, Woodall co-sponsored targeted legislation easing healthcare-related regulatory hurdles for veterans transitioning to civilian employment. He was an original cosponsor of H.R. 3739, the Veterans' Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act of 2015, authorizing physicians to issue medical certificates for commercial driver's licenses under the FAST Act; it passed the 414-0 on February 2, 2016. Similarly, in 2017, he introduced H.R. 2547, expanding certified medical examiners to include VA professionals and military retirees, which passed the 419-0 on June 26. These bipartisan measures focused on reentry rather than broad healthcare restructuring.

Social policy positions

Woodall maintained consistently pro-life positions on , describing himself as strongly pro-life and advocating for abstinence-based . He voted in favor of prohibiting federal health coverage that funds s in May 2011. In 2017, he co-sponsored H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which aimed to restrict federal appropriations for abortion services except in cases of , , or life endangerment. Woodall also co-sponsored and voted yes on H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, banning abortions after 20 weeks of gestation with limited exceptions, in 2017. Additionally, in March 2019, he sponsored legislation to protect infants born alive after failed s, requiring medical care rather than neglect. Regarding marriage and family issues, Woodall opposed , affirming support for unions between one man and one woman as of November 2010. Following the Supreme Court's 2015 decision legalizing nationwide, he criticized the ruling, stating that "the Court is not a " and expressing a desire for the federal government to withdraw from defining marriage altogether. He advocated respecting faith-based opposition to in 2015. In 2013, Woodall co-sponsored H.R. 3133, the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act, which sought to shield individuals and organizations from federal penalties for adhering to traditional marriage beliefs in employment, benefits, or services. On , a component of broader social welfare frameworks, Woodall supported parental choice and from federal control. He endorsed vouchers to decouple low-income status from quality and voted yes on reauthorizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program in March 2011, enabling low-income families to access private schools. In July 2015, he backed the A-PLUS Act to allow states to of No Child Left Behind mandates, and in August 2018, he affirmed states' authority over educational standards per a Political Victory Scorecard survey.

Key positions and public stances

Gun rights and Second Amendment advocacy

Woodall has consistently opposed legislation, maintaining that the Second Amendment provides sufficient protection for the right to keep and bear arms without additional federal restrictions. In response to a Project Vote Smart Political Courage Test, he stated opposition to restricting gun purchases and possession, emphasizing a commitment to standing up for gun owners against further limitations. His alignment with this view earned a 90% rating from , a group advocating for expansive Second Amendment interpretations, based on his legislative record. During consideration of concealed carry reciprocity legislation, such as H.R. 822 in 2011, Woodall voted against the measure, arguing that the Second Amendment inherently guarantees the right to carry concealed firearms across state lines, rendering federal mandates unnecessary and potentially infringing on states' rights. He reiterated this constitutionalist perspective in 2017 debates over similar proposals, prioritizing originalist interpretations over statutory expansions of gun rights. This stance reflects a broader resistance to federal overreach in firearms policy, favoring reliance on existing constitutional guarantees rather than new laws. Woodall's voting record demonstrates opposition to enhanced regulatory measures, including a "no" vote on H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which sought universal background checks for all sales. He also supported H.R. 420 in 2011, allowing veterans to register unlicensed firearms acquired abroad, facilitating easier compliance for service members without imposing new controls. These actions underscore a pattern of defending Second Amendment rights through resistance to background expansions and by enabling access for specific groups, consistent with his campaign pledges against .

Investigations and oversight, including Mueller probe

Woodall served on the House Committee on from the 113th onward, contributing to investigations into executive branch actions during the Obama administration. As a committee member, he participated in hearings examining the 2012 attacks, including reviews of the State Department's Accountability Review Board report and assessments of security failures and response delays at the U.S. diplomatic compound in on , 2012. These probes, led by Chairman , highlighted unresolved questions about intelligence warnings, military response timelines, and the administration's initial public narrative attributing the assault to a spontaneous rather than premeditated . In the IRS targeting , Woodall joined committee efforts scrutinizing the agency's differential treatment of conservative tax-exempt applications between 2010 and 2012, where groups with names including "Tea Party" or "Patriot" faced heightened scrutiny and delays. Hearings revealed internal IRS communications directing such reviews, prompting Lois Lerner's May 10, 2013, public apology and admissions of inappropriate criteria. Woodall advocated for accountability, emphasizing in a March 14, 2014, interview that the eroded public trust in government impartiality and necessitated structural reforms to prevent politicized enforcement. The committee's work contributed to findings that the targeting was not isolated but systemic, though no direct involvement was proven. Regarding the Mueller investigation into Russian election interference and potential Trump campaign ties, launched May 17, 2017, Woodall expressed support for its completion to resolve underlying questions. In an April 2, 2018, primary debate, he stated the probe should "get to the bottom" of allegations to clear the air. Following the March 22, 2019, report release—detailing no conspiracy with but noting insufficient evidence to exonerate on obstruction—Woodall declined to read it, asserting on June 9, 2019, that he trusted Robert Mueller's integrity and process without needing personal review. This position aligned with his broader oversight philosophy prioritizing institutional trust over exhaustive document scrutiny, though critics viewed it as evading congressional responsibility amid partisan divides.

Immigration and national security views

Woodall advocated strict enforcement of existing immigration laws, asserting that "as a nation of laws, illegal immigration must be stopped" and that Congress must prioritize implementation of statutes already enacted. He earned a 100% rating from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, reflecting alignment with restrictionist priorities such as enhanced border controls and reduced illegal entries. In response to executive actions under President Obama, Woodall condemned the suspension of deportations for millions of undocumented immigrants, arguing it eroded the rule of law and diminished economic prospects for citizens by granting work permits to non-citizens. He voted in favor of H.R. 5759, the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014, which sought to block such unilateral deferrals of enforcement. Skeptical of physical barriers as a standalone solution, Woodall remarked in 2013 that "you could not build a high enough or a wide enough to keep me and my pregnant wife out," emphasizing instead multifaceted enforcement over reliance on border walls. Following the Senate's June 27, 2013, passage of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Modernization Act—a comprehensive measure—Woodall endorsed fixing the "broken" immigration system, citing his office's handling of 180 open cases and aid to 492 families the prior year, but criticized the bill's scale for stifling amendments and debate, favoring the House's piecemeal approach to ensure thorough, bipartisan scrutiny and uphold legal enforcement. Woodall linked border security to imperatives, supporting Republican-led compromises in 2019 to fund enhanced measures amid shutdown threats, including discussions on where he stressed House commitment to averting crises through fortified protections. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on , he contributed to examinations of homeland security funding, voting in 2014 for appropriations bills that sustained Department of Homeland Security operations critical to countering threats like and illicit crossings. Toward the end of his tenure, Woodall co-sponsored H.R. 8708, the American Families United Act, introduced November 2, 2020, with Representatives and , to restrict deportations that would separate non-citizen parents or spouses from U.S. citizen children or family members, prioritizing family unity within legal bounds.

Retirement and post-congressional activities

Decision to retire in 2020

On February 7, 2019, U.S. Representative Rob Woodall (R-GA) announced that he would not seek re-election to a sixth term in the U.S. House, opting to retire at the conclusion of his term ending January 3, 2021. The five-term congressman, who had represented since 2011, cited a combination of political challenges and personal reflections as influencing his decision. Woodall's announcement followed a razor-thin re-election victory in November 2018, where he defeated Democrat by just 419 votes out of over 258,000 cast, securing 51.4% to her 48.6%. Georgia's 7th district, encompassing suburban areas north of including Gwinnett and Henry counties, had shifted toward Democratic leanings amid , , and demographic changes, making it one of the most competitive seats nationally. Woodall emphasized that the district's evolving dynamics were not the sole factor but acknowledged the prospect of another grueling campaign against a potentially stronger Democratic challenger in 2020. Personally, Woodall pointed to the recent of his and the cumulative toll of congressional service on time as prompting introspection about his priorities. He described the role's demands—frequent travel between Georgia and Washington, D.C.—as having extracted significant personal costs, leading him to conclude it was time to "pass the baton" after a decade in office. By disclosing his plans early, Woodall aimed to facilitate a smooth transition, allowing Republican primary contenders ample time to organize and compete effectively in the district. Woodall's retirement formed part of a broader pattern among House Republicans following the 2018 midterm losses, with at least 11 GOP incumbents announcing they would not run again by early , often from districts vulnerable to Democratic gains. Despite the competitive outlook, Woodall expressed optimism about the district's conservative base and committed to serving out his full term without seeking other office.

Subsequent professional and public engagements

Following his departure from the U.S. on January 3, 2021, Rob Woodall has maintained a low public profile with limited documented professional or public engagements. Woodall attended the Akshardham event celebrating Indian culture on October 1, 2023, in , Georgia, where he was recognized as a former U.S. Representative alongside other local figures. This appearance represents one of the few public activities attributed to him post-Congress.

References

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