Angie Craig
Angie Craig | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 2nd district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jason Lewis |
Personal details | |
Born | Angela Dawn Craig February 14, 1972 West Helena, Arkansas, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Cheryl Greene |
Children | 4 |
Education | University 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.
Contents
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]
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]
- Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (Co-Chair)[16]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
Electoral history[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Angie Craig | 15,155 | 100.0 | |
Total votes | 15,155 | 100.0 |
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 |
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]
- ^ "Angie Craig Tops Jason Lewis For 2nd District Seat". WCCO. November 6, 2018.
- ^ "Candidate Conversation - Angie Craig (DFL) | News & Analysis | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Montgomery, David (October 7, 2016). "Angie Craig: Adoption struggle shaped 2nd District candidate". Twincities.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ "Angie Craig, former Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter, now in Congress". Commercialappeal.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- ^ "News". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Renzetti, Jackie (July 25, 2018). "Voter guide: Angie Craig talks key issues". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Gessner, John (September 22, 2016). "Eagan resident Angie Craig looks to Washington | Local News". hometownsource.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Angie Craig officially announces run against Rep. Kline". MinnPost. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ "Second District race: What it would mean to elect a former medical device executive to Congress". MinnPost. January 26, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave | HuffPost". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Romi Oltuski (October 21, 2018). "If She Wins, Angie Craig Will Be the First Lesbian Mom in Congress". InStyle. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "Minnesota Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ "Join the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus – DearColleague.us". Retrieved February 8, 2019.
- ^ "August 9, 2016 Primary Election Unofficial Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. August 9, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Generalelection
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "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]
- Congresswoman Angie Craig official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
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 |
116th | Senate: A. Klobuchar • T. Smith | House: C. Peterson • B. McCollum • T. Emmer • A. Craig • J. Hagedorn • I. Omar • D. Phillips • P. Stauber |
- 1972 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Lesbian politicians
- LGBT members of the United States Congress
- LGBT people from Arkansas
- LGBT people from Minnesota
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota
- Minnesota Democrats
- People from West Helena, Arkansas
- University of Memphis alumni