House transport panel heading for shake up after Rahall defeat

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is heading for a shaking up after Rep. Nick Rahall’s (D-W. Va.) defeat on Tuesday night. 

Rahall, who been the top ranking Democrat on the panel, was defeated in his bid for an 18th term in Congress by Republican Evan Jenkins. 

Republicans have longed targeted Rahall because President Obama is deeply unpopular in West Virginia. 

{mosads}The long-time lawmaker sought to project a centrist image even as he pushed for increased transportation spending in Congress. 

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) is considered to be next in line for the ranking Democrat position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 

Lawmakers could look to transportation funding in the next Congress as an area they can find bipartisanship with the current infrastructure spending measure set to expire in May 2015. 

-This story was updated to correct an earlier version on Nov. 6 at 2:24 p.m.