Craig Washington

Craig Anthony Washington (born October 12, 1941) is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Texas who served in the Texas State Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Craig Anthony Washington
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th district
In office
December 9, 1989  January 3, 1995
Preceded byMickey Leland
Succeeded bySheila Jackson Lee
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 13th district
In office
January 11, 1983  January 23, 1990
Preceded byWalter Mengden
Succeeded byRodney Ellis
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 86th district
In office
January 9, 1973  January 11, 1983
Preceded byCharles Finnell
Succeeded byLarry Q. Evans
Personal details
Born
Craig Anthony Washington

(1941-10-12) October 12, 1941
Longview, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children5
ResidenceHouston, Texas
EducationPrairie View A&M University (B.S.)
Texas Southern University (J.D.)
OccupationAttorney

The son of Roy and Azalia Washington, Washington graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1966 and was originally interested in becoming a doctor, but as admissions to medical school had already ceased, Washington decided to instead apply at Texas Southern University's law school.

Career

In 1972, the state of Texas began electing members of the state House of Representatives and State Senate, for the first time, by single-member districts. Washington, along with four other minority candidates, Anthony Hall, George T. "Mickey" Leland, Benny Reyes and Cecil Bush, (dubbed the "People's Five"), ran for seats in the Texas House of Representatives. Washington was elected, and represented District 86 in the state House from 1973 to 1982. He then represented District 13 in the state senate from 1983 until 1989.

Washington was elected as a Democrat to the 101st United States Congress for Texas's 18th congressional district, by special election, December 9, 1989, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mickey Leland. He was reelected to the 102nd United States Congress and 103rd United States Congress and served from December 9, 1989, to January 3, 1995. He took stands against some projects, like the International Space Station, where spending would have flowed to his district.[1]

In March, 1994, Washington was routed in the Democratic primary by Houston City Councilwoman Sheila Jackson Lee, winning only 36.5 percent of the vote. Lee won in November and still holds the seat today.

Since leaving Congress, Washington has practiced law in Houston and Bastrop, Texas.

See also

  • List of African-American Representatives

References

  1. Tim Fleck (20 February 1997). "What's Driving Miss Shelia?". Houston Press. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles Finnell
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 86 (Houston)

1973–1983
Succeeded by
Larry Q. Evans
Texas Senate
Preceded by
Walter Mengden
Texas State Senator
from District 13 (Houston)

1983–1989
Succeeded by
Rodney Ellis
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Mickey Leland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th congressional district

December 9, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Succeeded by
Sheila Jackson Lee
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