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 by	Mickey Leland
Succeeded by	Sheila Jackson Lee
Member of the Texas Senate from the 13th district
In office January 11, 1983 – January 23, 1990
Preceded by	Walter Mengden
Succeeded by	Rodney Ellis
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 86th district
In office January 9, 1973 – January 11, 1983
Preceded by	Charles Finnell
Succeeded by	Larry Q. Evans
Personal details
Born	Craig Anthony Washington (1941-10-12) October 12, 1941 (age 83) Longview, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	5
Residence	Houston, Texas
Education	Prairie View A&M University (BS) Texas Southern University (JD)
Occupation	Attorney

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.^{[citation needed]}

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 held the seat until her death on July 19, 2024.

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

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives