Craig Anthony Washington(born October 12, 1941) is an American lawyer andDemocratic Partypolitician fromTexaswho served in theTexas State Senateand theUnited States House of Representatives.
Craig Anthony Washington | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's18thdistrict | |
| In office December 9, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Mickey Leland |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Jackson Lee |
| Member of theTexas Senate from the13thdistrict | |
| In office January 11, 1983 – January 23, 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Mengden |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Ellis |
| Member of theTexas House of Representatives from the86thdistrict | |
| In office January 9, 1973 – January 11, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Finnell |
| Succeeded by | Larry Q. Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Craig Anthony Washington October 12, 1941 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 fromPrairie View A&M Universityin 1966 and was originally interested in becoming a doctor, but as admissions to medical school had already ceased, Washington decided to instead apply atTexas Southern University's law school.[citation needed]
Career
editIn 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 Reyesand 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 aDemocratto the101st United States CongressforTexas'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 the102nd United States Congressand103rd United States Congressand 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 CouncilwomanSheila 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 inHoustonandBastrop, Texas.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Tim Fleck (20 February 1997)."What's Driving Miss Shelia?".Houston Press.Archived fromthe originalon 9 August 2011.