Rick Nolan | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 8th district |
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Assumed office January 3, 2013 |
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Preceded by | Chip Cravaack |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 6th district |
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In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 |
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Preceded by | John M. Zwach |
Succeeded by | Vin Weber |
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 53A district |
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In office 1969–1972 |
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Succeeded by | Raymond Kempe |
Personal details | |
Born |
Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S. |
December 17, 1943
Political party | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
Spouse(s) | Mary Nolan Marjorie Nolan (divorced) |
Residence | Crosby, Minnesota |
Alma mater |
St. John’s University University of Minnesota (B.A.) University of Maryland, College Park St. Cloud State University |
Profession | Business owner and politician |
Website | Representative Rick Nolan |
Richard Michael "Rick" Nolan (born December 17, 1943) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party who has been the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 8th congressional district since 2013 and previously served as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 6th congressional district from 1975 to 1981.
After re-entering politics in 2011, he was nominated to challenge first-term incumbent Republican Chip Cravaack in the 8th district, defeating him on November 6, 2012. Nolan was re-elected in 2014 and 2016. Nolan and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy are the only two remaining Watergate Babies in Congress, although Nolan's service included a break from 1981 to 2013.
Nolan's 32-year gap between terms in Congress is the longest such break in service in American political history.
Nolan was born in Brainerd, Minnesota and graduated from Brainerd High School in 1962. His aunt was a district judge, whom Nolan called his “biggest political influence growing up.” He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota the following year, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, earning his B.A. in 1966. Nolan pursued postgraduate work in public administration and policy formation at the University of Maryland, College Park, and in education at St. Cloud State University.
Early in his career he served as a staff assistant to Walter Mondale in the United States Senate, and was a teacher of social studies in Royalton, Minnesota. In 1968, he campaigned for presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.