Craig Williams (Pennsylvania politician)

Wendell Craig Williams is a former federal prosecutor, member of the United States Marine Corps, and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 160th district. He received his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1987, his J.D. degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1997 and his master's degree from Columbia University in 2001.^[1]

Craig Williams
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 160th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2021
Preceded by	Stephen Barrar
Personal details
Born	(1965-11-07) November 7, 1965 (age 59) Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jennifer
Children	4
Education	Duke University (BA) University of Florida (JD) Columbia University (LLM)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps

Williams served as second lieutenant during the Persian Gulf War. He was later promoted to Colonel in the United States Marine Corps.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Craig Williams lives in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jennifer Arbittier Williams, an Assistant United States Attorney,^[2] and their four children: Emma, Clayton, Cole, and Charlotte.

Career

Marines

In 1987, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, he flew 56 combat missions in the F/A-18D Hornet. In 1996, he became a Marine Judge Advocate and joined the Reserves. In 2005, he was mobilized to active duty to serve as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was later selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel in the Marine Corps.^{[citation needed]}

Legal work

Williams with former PA Governor Tom Ridge

Williams worked as a federal prosecutor, and served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. During active duty, he served as deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Williams clerked with the Honorable J.L. Edmondson, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Colorado and Pennsylvania, and worked under former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers and General Peter Pace.

2008 congressional campaign

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008 § District 7

Craig Williams announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district (map). on January 16, 2008.^[3] He was endorsed by several high-profile organizations,^[4] including The Philadelphia Inquirer.^[5] He also received endorsements from, among others, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin,^[6] Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, all of whom also campaigned for Williams.^[7][8] His campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, losing to the incumbent Joe Sestak.^[9]

2020 House of Representatives campaign

See also: 2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election

Williams was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020.

2024 Attorney General election

In November 2023, Williams announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2024 Pennsylvania Attorney General election. Williams was refused endorsements from both the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and the Pennsylvania Republican Party, who both endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday instead. The snubs came after Williams boasted before entering the race that he would earn the RAGA endorsement. He has since bucked party support, claiming the endorsements are the work of "Harrisburg insiders" propping up Sunday,^[10][11] "a[n] inactive prosecutor who is as progressive as Larry Krasner in Philadelphia," according to Williams.^[12] Williams lost to Sunday 70-30.^[13]

Electoral history

• 2008 Race for Congress
  • Joe Sestak (D) (inc.), 59.6%
  • Wendell Craig Williams (R), 40.4%