William Robert Woodall III (WUUD-awl; born February 11, 1970) is an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia from 2011 to 2021. He represented Georgia’s 7th congressional district, which during his tenure included most of Gwinnett County, a rapidly growing suburban county northeast of Atlanta. Over five terms in office, Woodall contributed to the legislative process in the House of Representatives and participated in the democratic governance of a district that was undergoing significant demographic and political change.
Woodall pursued higher education before entering public service and the law, ultimately training as an attorney. After completing his legal education and being admitted to practice law, he began his professional career in politics rather than in a traditional law firm setting, applying his legal background to legislative and policy work. His early professional years were closely tied to the office of Congressman John Linder, a senior Republican from Georgia whose district Woodall would later represent.
From 1994 to 2010, Woodall worked for Representative John Linder, gaining extensive experience in congressional operations and public policy. Over the course of this sixteen-year period, he advanced within Linder’s office and eventually became Linder’s chief of staff. In that role, Woodall was responsible for managing the congressional office, advising on legislative strategy, and helping to shape policy priorities. This long apprenticeship in a congressional office provided him with detailed knowledge of the legislative process and the needs of the 7th District, positioning him as a natural successor when Linder chose not to seek reelection.
In 2010, Woodall ran for the open seat in Georgia’s 7th congressional district and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning his service in Congress in January 2011. His tenure in the House coincided with a significant period in American political history, marked by debates over federal spending, health care, and the role of government. As a member of the House of Representatives, Woodall represented the interests of his constituents in Gwinnett County and the surrounding area, participating in committee work, floor debates, and the broader legislative process. He was reelected multiple times, reflecting sustained support from voters in a district that had long been a Republican stronghold but was gradually becoming more competitive.
Woodall secured reelection in 2012, winning 62.16% of the 252,066 votes cast against Democratic nominee Steve Reilly. In the 2014 election, he again prevailed comfortably, receiving 65.39% of the 173,669 votes cast against Democratic challenger Thomas D. Wight. In 2016, he was reelected with 60.38% of the 288,301 votes cast, defeating Democrat Rashid Malik. These victories underscored his continued appeal to the district’s electorate during a period when suburban Atlanta remained largely favorable to Republican candidates, even as demographic shifts began to alter the political landscape.
By the 2018 election cycle, Georgia’s 7th District had become one of the most closely watched and competitive congressional districts in the country. Woodall faced Democratic challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux in a race that drew national attention. He received support from the Great America Committee, a political action committee registered by Vice President Mike Pence, reflecting the importance national Republicans placed on holding the seat. The contest proved unexpectedly close; after a recount, Woodall defeated Bourdeaux by only 433 votes, making it the closest House race in the 2018 midterm elections. It was also the narrowest margin by which a Democrat had come to winning this district since its creation in 1993, when it was initially designated as the 4th District (1993–1997), then the 11th District (1997–2003), and finally the 7th District from 2003 onward.
Rob Woodall’s decade in Congress, from 2011 to 2021, spanned a transformative era in both national politics and the political character of his district. As a Republican representative, he took part in the full range of legislative responsibilities, including voting on major national policy measures and advocating for the priorities of his suburban Georgia constituents. After serving five terms, he left office at the conclusion of his final term in January 2021, closing a congressional career that had been preceded by many years of behind-the-scenes service on Capitol Hill.
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