Angie Craig

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Angie Craig
Angie Craig 117th 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 51)
West Helena, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCheryl Greene
Children4
EducationUniversity of Memphis (BA)
Website

Angela Dawn Craig (born February 14, 1972) is an American politician, retired journalist, and former businesswoman serving as the U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Craig's district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities and some outlying rural areas.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Craig worked in journalism and corporate communications. She moved to Minnesota in 2005 for a job at St. Jude Medical. Craig first ran for Congress in 2016, losing to Jason Lewis, whom she defeated in their 2018 rematch.[1]

Craig is the first out LGBT member of Congress from Minnesota. She is also the first lesbian mother (and grandmother) ever to serve in Congress.[2][3]

Early life and career

Craig was born in West Helena, Arkansas, in 1972.[4][5] She graduated from Nettleton High School in Jonesboro[6] and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis.[7]

After college, Craig interned at The Commercial Appeal and became a full-time reporter.[8] She lived in London from 2002 through 2005,[5][9] and worked at St. Jude Medical in human resources and communications from 2005 to 2017.[10][11][12]

U.S. House of Representatives

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

Elections

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota § District 2

In 2016, Craig ran for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district.[13] She announced her candidacy before Republican incumbent John Kline announced his retirement.[11] She faced no opposition in the Democratic primary. In the general election, she faced former conservative talk show host Jason Lewis.[13] She lost by fewer than 7,000 votes.

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota § District 2

Craig sought a rematch with Lewis in the 2018 elections.[10] As in 2016, she was 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.[14][15] Craig received 52.6% of the vote, winning three of the six counties in the district.[16][17]

When she took office in January 2019, she became the first Democrat to represent Minnesota's 2nd district since it assumed its current configuration in 2003.[citation needed]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota § District 2

In a verified recording, Legal Marijuana Now Party nominee Adam Weeks said that Republican operatives offered him $15,000 to run for Congress in the 2nd district in order to "pull votes away" from Craig. Weeks said, "They want me to run as a third-party, liberal candidate, which I'm down. I can play the liberal, you know that."[18][19] Leaders of prominent pro-marijuana legalization groups Minnesotans for Responsible Marijuana Regulation, Sensible Change Minnesota, and Minnesota NORML condemned the GOP strategy as "unconscionable".[18]

In late September, Weeks died of a drug overdose, throwing the election into chaos. Minnesota law requires a special election if a major-party nominee dies within 79 days of Election Day. The law was enacted to prevent a repeat of the circumstances of the 2002 U. S. Senate election, in which incumbent Paul Wellstone died 11 days before the general election. Since the Legal Marijuana Now Party was a major party in Minnesota (by virtue of its 2018 candidate for state auditor winning five percent of the vote), the 2nd District race was set to be postponed to February 9, 2021.[20] Craig sued to keep the election on November 3, arguing that the requirement for a special election could leave the 2nd district without representation for almost a month, and also violated federal election law.[21] Republican nominee Tyler Kistner joined the Minnesota Secretary of State as a defendant. The federal judge hearing the case ruled for Craig, noting that federal election law barred moving the date of House elections in all but a few circumstances. Kistner appealed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also sided with Craig. The appeals court held that the death of a candidate from a party with "modest electoral strength" could not justify postponing the election. After Kistner's appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected, the election was cleared to continue as scheduled on November 3.[19][22][23][24][25]

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota § District 2

In the debate between Craig and Republican challenger Tyler Kistner, Craig was criticized for saying “I will never stop standing up for Big Pharma and standing against my constituents.”[26]

Tenure

According to the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, Craig held a Bipartisan Index Score of 0.3 in the 116th United States Congress for 2019, placing her 114th out of 435 members.[27]

During Donald Trump's presidency, Craig voted in line with Trump's stated position 5.5% of the time.[28] As of June 2022, Craig had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[29]

On February 25, 2022, Craig introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill intended to cap out-of-pocket insulin prices at $35 per month. The bill passed the House.[30][31]

Committee assignments

Past

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2020[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Angie Craig (incumbent) 204,031 48.18
Republican Tyler Kistner 194,466 45.92
Legal Marijuana Now Adam Charles Weeks 24,693 5.83
Write-in 270 0.06
Total votes 423,460 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2018[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Angie Craig 177,958 52.66
Republican Jason Lewis (incumbent) 159,344 47.15
Write-in 666 0.20
Total votes 337,968 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2016[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Lewis 173,970 46.95
Democratic (DFL) Angie Craig 167,315 45.16
Independence Paula Overby 28,869 7.79
Write-in 360 0.10
Total votes 370,514 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

In 2020, Craig moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota after living in Eagan, Minnesota for nearly 10 years.[39] She and her wife, Cheryl Greene, have four children.

See also

References

  1. ^ Beifuss, John. "Meet the former Commercial Appeal reporter who's now in Congress". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Angie Craig | LGBTHistoryMonth.com". www.lgbthistorymonth.com. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Wiener, Jon (September 2, 2016). "The Terrible Mini-Trump of Minnesota—and the Progressive Who's Running Against Him". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Candidate Conversation – Angie Craig (DFL) | News & Analysis | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Montgomery, David (October 7, 2016). "Angie Craig: Adoption struggle shaped 2nd District candidate". Twincities.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "Angie Craig, former Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter, now in Congress". Commercialappeal.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "News". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Renzetti, Jackie (July 25, 2018). "Voter guide: Angie Craig talks key issues". Hastings Star Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  9. ^ Gessner, John (September 22, 2016). "Eagan resident Angie Craig looks to Washington". hometownsource.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b "Angie Craig officially announces run against Rep. Kline". MinnPost. April 6, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "Second District race: What it would mean to elect a former medical device executive to Congress". MinnPost. January 26, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "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.
  14. ^ "LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave". Huffingtonpost.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  15. ^ Romi Oltuski (October 21, 2018). "If She Wins, Angie Craig Will Be the First Lesbian Mom in Congress". InStyle. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  16. ^ "Minnesota Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  17. ^ "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Before death, pro-marijuana candidate reportedly said GOP recruited him to "pull votes away" from Minnesota Democrat, CBS News, October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Bierschbach, Briana (October 28, 2020). "Pot party candidate said GOP recruited him to 'pull votes' from Minnesota Democrat". Minneapolis Star Tribune. No. Volume XXXIX No. 207. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  20. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (September 28, 2020). "Rep. Angie Craig files lawsuit over delay of Second Congressional District race". Minneapolis Star Tribune. No. Volume XXXIX No. 178. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  21. ^ Van Oot, Torey; Condon, Patrick (October 10, 2020). "Judge blocks delay of Minnesota congressional race". Minneapolis Star Tribune. No. Volume XXXIX No. 189. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  22. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (October 23, 2020). "Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election stays on Nov. 3, Appeals Court rules". Minneapolis Star Tribune. No. Volume XXXIX No. 203. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  23. ^ Brian Bakst (October 9, 2020). "Judge: Winner of CD2 race must be decided in November". Minnesota Public Radio.
  24. ^ Brian Bakst (October 23, 2020). "Appeals court rules 2nd district race should proceed". Minnesota Public Radio.
  25. ^ "Abortion, Economy Take Center Stage in Craig-Kistner Debate".
  26. ^ "The Lugar Center – McCourt School Bipartisan Index House Scores 116th Congress First Session (2019)" (PDF). Georgetown University. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump – Angie Craig". ABC News. January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  28. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  29. ^ Craig, Angie (February 25, 2022). "H.R.6833 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Affordable Insulin Now Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  30. ^ Tribune, Hunter Woodall Star. "U.S. House passes Rep. Angie Craig's bill limiting insulin costs". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  31. ^ Jeffries, Hakeem S. (January 17, 2019). "H.Res.57 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives". www.congress.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  32. ^ "Join the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus – DearColleague.us". Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  33. ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  34. ^ https://houseprochoicecaucus-degette.house.gov/about-pcc/members
  35. ^ "State General Election 2020 − Results for U.S. Representative District 2". Minnesota Secretary of State. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  36. ^ "State General Election 2018 – Results for U.S. Representative District 2". Minnesota Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  37. ^ "State General Election 2016 – Results for U.S. Representative District 2". Minnesota Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  38. ^ "About". Representative Angie Craig. December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Angie Craig.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by 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 United States representatives by seniority
297th 		Succeeded by
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