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Tom Craddick
American politician (born 1943) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thomas Russell Craddick (born September 19, 1943) is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives representing the 82nd district. Craddick was the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from January 2003 to January 2009. He was the first Republican to serve as Speaker since Reconstruction.
Craddick was first elected in 1968 at the age of twenty-five and, as of 2025, is the longest serving legislator in the history of the Texas House of Representatives and the longest serving incumbent state legislator in the United States.[1][2]
On July 1, 2025, Craddick announced he would be running in 2026 for his 30th term.[2]
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Early life and career
Craddick was born in Beloit, Wisconsin to Russell F. Craddick (1913-1986) and Beatrice (Kowalick) Craddick (1914-2001).[3] He lived in Beloit until he was nine years old.[4] He became an Eagle Scout.
Texas House of Representatives
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While he was a doctoral student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Craddick decided to run for the legislature to succeed the incumbent Republican Frank Kell Cahoon of Midland, who was not seeking a third two-year term. According to Craddick's official biography, even his father, businessman R.F. Craddick (1913–1986), warned him: "Texas is run by Democrats. You can't win." Although this part of Texas had been trending Republican at the national level for some time (for instance, Midland itself has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1948), Democrats continued to hold most local offices well into the 1980s.
He was one of eight Republicans in the chamber at that time. His victory came on the same day that Richard M. Nixon was elected as U.S. President.
In 1975, Craddick was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the first Republican to have chaired a Texas legislative committee in more than a century.[5] At that time in Texas, a legislator did not need to be in the majority party in order to chair a committee.
On November 6, 2012, when Craddick won his 23rd term in the Texas House, his daughter Christi was easily elected as a Republican to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulatory body.[6]
In the general election held on November 6, 2018, Craddick won his 26th term in the legislature with 37,504 votes (80.3 percent), he defeated the Democratic candidate, Spencer Bounds, who polled 9,207 votes (19.7 percent).[7] In this same election, Craddick's daughter, Christi Craddick, won her second term as a Republican member of the Texas Railroad Commission.[7]
On May 27, 2023, Craddick voted against the impeachment of Texas attorney general Ken Paxton.[8]
In November 2023, Craddick announced he would run for reelection to a record twenty-ninth term in the 2024 Texas House of Representatives election.[9] He won by 40,000 votes.[10]
On July 1, 2025, Craddick announced he would be running in 2026 for his 30th term.[2] He has no primary Republican challenger yet.[2]
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Speaker of the House
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On January 11, 2003, after thirty-four years in the House, Craddick became the first Republican Speaker in more than 130 years.[11] He held the presiding officer's position for six years.
In December 2006, Craddick faced credible challenges to his re-election as Speaker for the Eightieth Texas Legislature: Brian McCall (R-Plano), Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), and Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), all of whom announced candidacies for the speakership. In early January, McCall withdrew and endorsed Pitts.[12] Supporters of Pitts pressed for a secret ballot in order to avoid retribution should their efforts fail,[12] while Craddick had maintained all along that he had more than the minimum number of votes needed for re-election.[13] When the secret ballot measure failed, Pitts withdrew, and Craddick was re-elected to a third term as Speaker on January 9, 2007, by a vote of 121-27.[13][14]
Ouster as Speaker
Craddick became increasingly unpopular with not only Democrats but those of his own party, and many called for a new Speaker to be elected.[15] In the most extreme case, Craddick's political views and leadership compelled Kirk England (R-Grand Prairie) to run for re-election as a Democrat in 2008.[16]
Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Fred Hill, a Republican from Richardson, attempted to raise a question of privilege to remove Craddick from office, but Craddick refused to allow him to raise the question.[17] The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed for a time, although ultimately successful.
Craddick's close allies, such as Representative Phil King of Weatherford, said that the actions against the Speaker were an effort by Democrats to gain control of the legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011.[17] However, then Representative Byron Cook, a departing Republican from Corsicana, said that the fight was about Craddick having consolidated power with lobbyists and having used campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said.[17]
Specifically, Craddick recessed the legislature for two and a half hours after Representatives attempted to gain recognition to put the question of Craddick's removal to a vote. When Hill asked to vote to remove Mr. Craddick, the Speaker replied: "The Speaker's power of recognition on any matter cannot be appealed."[18]
His parliamentarian, Denise Davis disagreed, stating that question of privilege relating to the removal of a Speaker from office is such a highly privileged one that even the leader may not refuse. When Craddick shunned her advice, Davis and her assistant, Chris Griesel, resigned. Craddick immediately hired former Representative Terry Keel of Austin to the post as well as former Representative (and present-day lawyer) Ron Wilson as Keel's assistant. The session resumed until 1 a.m. and despite further protests from members of the legislature, Craddick remained in his position as Speaker, and the session was recessed.[15]
In January 2009, Craddick was ousted as Speaker after nearly the entire Democratic Caucus and a number of Republicans broke ranks to vote for Joe Straus, a two-term moderate Republican from San Antonio.[19] Straus remained speaker until his retirement from the House in January 2019. The last Texas House Speaker to be removed had also been a Republican, Ira Hobart Evans, who was rejected in 1871 for cooperating with Democrats on an elections bill.[17] Craddick won reelection to his House seat in the general election on November 2, 2010. Straus then won a second term as Speaker in January 2011, defeating two challengers.
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Personal life
Craddick married the former Nadine Nayfa on September 9, 1969 in her hometown of Sweetwater in west Texas.[20] She is of Lebanese descent. In addition to their daughter, Christi, they have a son, Thomas Jr., and a grandson, Thomas Russell Craddick III. Craddick holds BBA and MBA degrees from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech.[21] He lists his occupation as a sales representative for Mustang Mud, an oilfield supply company, although he also is a real estate speculator and developer.
Tom and Christi Craddick both have ownership interests in hundreds of oil and gas leases in the state, with a value of over $20 million. Craddick receives royalties of more than $2 million per year for brokering extraction lease sales, which are potential conflicts of interest as he sits on the committee that oversees the state's oil industry.[22] Craddick introduced a bill that would preserve the interests of holders of overriding royalties such as his own; he has reintroduced it after it was vetoed by Governor Abbott.[22]
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Electoral history
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Craddick has won 29 elections since 1968, being uncontested in all his primary runs, except 1968, and uncontested in the 1974, 1978-1982, 1986, 1992-1998, 2002-2006, 2010-2016, 2020 and 2022 general elections, or 17 out 29 elections. He routinely garnered at least 70% of the vote in his contested elections, with only two elections where he received less, being in 1970 when he received 52.2% and in 2008 when he received 62.12%.
1960s
1968
On February 9, 1968, he entered the race the day after incumbent, Frank Kell Cahoon, announced that he would not run for re-election.[23]
Craddick ran against Joe S. Davis in the Republican primary.[24] He ran against Democrat Ray O. Howard in the general election and won his first term.[25]
1970s
1970
Craddick was unopposed in the Republican primary.[26] He ran against Democrat Bob Northington in the general election and won his second term.[27]
1972
Craddick was unopposed in the Republican primary.[28] He then ran against Democrat Willie B. DuBose in the general election and won a third term.[29]
1974
He ran unopposed in the primary[30] and general elections and was re-elected to a fourth term.[31]
1976
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[32] He then was running against Democrat John B. Billingsley Jr. until he dropped out the race in July 1976 citing "personal reasons".[32] He then faced Democrat R. L. "Bob" Corley in the general election and won a fifth term.[33]
1978
Craddick was unopposed in the Republican primary election, winning 5,168 votes.[34] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 13,564 votes and re-election to a sixth term.[35]
1980s
1980
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary and received 6,229 votes.[36] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 22,946 votes and re-election to a seventh term.[37]
1982
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[38] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 18,873 votes and re-election to an eighth term.[39]
1984
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[40] He then ran against Democrat G. David Smith in the general election and won a ninth term.[41]
1986
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[43] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 21,770 votes and re-election to a tenth term.[44]
1988
He ran unopposed in the Republican primary, winning 2,285 votes.[45] He then ran against Libertarian Leonard Oth Carl in the general election and won re-election to an eleventh term.[42]
1990s
1990
He ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 1,871 votes.[46][47] He then ran against Libertarian Len Caryl in the general election and won re-election to a twelfth term.[48]
1992
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 15,219 votes.[49] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 32,539 votes and re-election to a thirteenth term.[50]
1994
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 8,024 votes.[51] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 26,034 votes and re-election to a fourteenth term.[52]
1996
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,289 votes.[53] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 30,771 votes and re-election to a fifteenth term.[54]
1998
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 8,329 votes.[55] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 22,086 votes and re-election to a sixteenth term.[56]
2000s
2000
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 16,007 votes.[57] He then ran against Democrat Gilberto M. Garcia in the general election and won re-election to a seventeenth term.[58]
2002
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 5,651 votes.[59] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 28,968 votes and re-election to an eighteenth term.[60]
2004
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 10,076 votes.[61] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 42,237 votes and re-election to a nineteenth term.[62]
2006
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 5,439 votes.[63] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 24,187 votes and re-election to a 20th term.[64]
2008
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 11,962 votes.[65] He then ran against Democrat Bill Dingus and Libertarian Sherry Phillips in the general election and won re-election to a 21st term.[66]
2010s
2010
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 11,555 votes.[67] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 28,006 votes and re-election to a 22nd term.[68]
2012
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 10,945 votes.[69] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 42,572 votes and re-election to a 23rd term.[6]
2014
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,129 votes.[70] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 24,262 votes and re-election to a 24th term.[71]
2016
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 20,819 votes.[72] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 47,432 votes and re-election to a 25th term.[73]
2018
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican priamry, winning 13,973 votes.[74] He then ran against Democrat Spencer Bounds in the general election and won re-election to a 26th term.[7]
2020s
2020
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 22,604 votes.[75] He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 61,068 votes and won re-election to a 27th term.[76]
2022
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,643 votes.[77] He then ran unopposed in the general election and won re-election to a 28th term.[78]
2024
Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, winning 15,128 votes.[79] He then ran against Democrat Steven Schafersman and won re-election to a 29th term.[10]
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References
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