Angie Craig

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Angie Craig
Angie Craig, official portrait, 116th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byJason Lewis
Personal details
Born
Angela Dawn Craig

(1972-02-14) February 14, 1972 (age 48)
West Helena, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Cheryl Greene
Children4
EducationUniversity of Memphis (BA)
Website

Angela Dawn Craig (born February 14, 1972) is an American politician from the state of Minnesota. She is the United States Representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, having defeated incumbent Republican Jason Lewis in the 2018 elections.[1] The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and Apple Valley. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career[edit]

Craig was born in West Helena, Arkansas, in 1972.[2][3] She graduated from Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas,[4] and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis.[5]

After college, Craig interned at The Commercial Appeal and became a full-time reporter.[6] She moved to London, Minnesota,[3][7] and worked at St. Jude Medical in human resources and communications from 2005 through 2017.[8][9][10]

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Angie Craig at a campaign event in Apple Valley, Minnesota
Craig at a campaign event in Apple Valley, Minnesota

Elections[edit]

2016

In the 2016 elections, Craig ran for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district.[11] She announced her candidacy before Republican incumbent John Kline announced his retirement.[9] She faced no opposition in the Democratic primary. In the general election, she faced former conservative talk show host Jason Lewis.[11] She lost by fewer than 7,000 votes.

2018

Craig sought a rematch with Lewis in the 2018 elections.[8] As in 2016, Craig ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. She defeated Lewis, becoming the first openly lesbian mother to be elected to Congress, the first woman to be elected in Minnesota's 2nd district, and the first openly gay person elected to Congress from Minnesota.[12][13] Craig received 52.6% of the vote, winning three of the six counties in the district.[14][15]

When she took office in January 2019, she became the first Democrat to represent the 2nd since it assumed its current configuration as a south suburban district in 2003.

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

Electoral history[edit]

Democratic primary results[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Angie Craig 15,155 100.0
Total votes 15,155 100.0
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2016 [18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Lewis 173,970 46.9
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Angie Craig 167,315 45.2
Independence Paula Overby 28,869 7.8
n/a Write-ins 360 0.1
Total votes 370,514 100.0
Republican hold
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic–Farmer–Labor Angie Craig 177,954 52.7
Republican Jason Lewis (incumbent) 159,343 47.1
n/a Write-ins 668 0.2
Total votes 337,965 100.0
Democratic–Farmer–Labor gain from Republican

Personal life[edit]

Craig lives in Eagan, Minnesota.[11] She and her wife, Cheryl Greene, have four children.[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Angie Craig Tops Jason Lewis For 2nd District Seat". WCCO. November 6, 2018.
  2. ^ "Candidate Conversation - Angie Craig (DFL) | News & Analysis | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Montgomery, David (October 7, 2016). "Angie Craig: Adoption struggle shaped 2nd District candidate". Twincities.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Angie Craig, former Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter, now in Congress". Commercialappeal.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "News". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  6. ^ Renzetti, Jackie (July 25, 2018). "Voter guide: Angie Craig talks key issues". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  7. ^ Gessner, John (September 22, 2016). "Eagan resident Angie Craig looks to Washington | Local News". hometownsource.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Rao, Maya (August 27, 2018). "In rematch with Jason Lewis, Angie Craig seeks stronger connection with voters". StarTribune.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Angie Craig officially announces run against Rep. Kline". MinnPost. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Second District race: What it would mean to elect a former medical device executive to Congress". MinnPost. January 26, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "It's Jason Lewis vs. Angie Craig in what's likely to be one of the most-watched congressional races in the country". MinnPost. August 13, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave | HuffPost". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Romi Oltuski (October 21, 2018). "If She Wins, Angie Craig Will Be the First Lesbian Mom in Congress". InStyle. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "Minnesota Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  15. ^ "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  16. ^ "Join the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus – DearColleague.us". Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  17. ^ "August 9, 2016 Primary Election Unofficial Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. August 9, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Generalelection was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ "GOP official jabs Angie Craig's family | Capitol View | Minnesota Public Radio News". Blogs.mprnews.org. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2018.

External links[edit]

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jason Lewis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district

2019–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
T. J. Cox
United States Representatives by seniority
354th
Succeeded by
Dan Crenshaw