Representative Craig Anthony Washington

Craig Anthony Washington (born October 12, 1941) is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Texas who served in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. The son of Roy and Azalia Washington, he emerged as a prominent African-American legislator during a period of significant political and social change in Texas and the nation. Over the course of his career, he became known for his independence and his willingness to take positions that did not always align with local economic interests, particularly on major federal spending projects.

Washington was born in 1941 and raised in Texas, where he attended public schools before enrolling at Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black university in Prairie View, Texas. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1966. Initially interested in becoming a doctor, he planned to attend medical school; however, when he sought to apply, admissions for that year had already closed. Facing this obstacle, Washington decided instead to pursue a legal career and applied to Texas Southern University’s law school, another historically Black institution in Houston, thereby setting the course for his future in law and politics.

After completing his legal education and entering the practice of law, Washington became active in Texas politics at a time when the state was undergoing important electoral reforms. In 1972, Texas began electing members of the state House of Representatives and State Senate by single-member districts for the first time, a change that opened new opportunities for minority representation. That year, Washington joined with four other minority candidates—Anthony Hall, George T. “Mickey” Leland, Benny Reyes, and Cecil Bush—who were collectively dubbed the “People’s Five.” Running as part of this group, Washington sought a seat in the Texas House of Representatives and was elected to represent District 86.

Washington served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1982, representing District 86. During his tenure, he participated in the legislative process at a time of expanding civil rights protections and growing political influence for African Americans and other minorities in Texas. In 1983, he advanced to the Texas State Senate, where he represented District 13. He served in the state senate from 1983 until 1989, building a reputation as a capable legislator and advocate for his constituents in the Houston area. His work in the state legislature helped position him as a leading Democratic figure in Texas politics and prepared him for service at the national level.

Washington entered the United States Congress following the death of his former colleague and fellow member of the “People’s Five,” Representative Mickey Leland. In a special election held on December 9, 1989, he was elected as a Democrat to the 101st United States Congress from Texas’s 18th congressional district to fill the vacancy caused by Leland’s death. He was subsequently reelected to the 102nd and 103rd Congresses, serving from December 9, 1989, to January 3, 1995. Over the course of his three terms in office, Washington contributed to the legislative process and represented the interests of his constituents during a significant period in American history, which included the end of the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War, and major domestic debates over federal spending and social policy.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Washington was known for his independent approach to federal expenditures and major projects. Notably, he took stands against some high-profile initiatives, such as the International Space Station, even though spending associated with such projects would have flowed to his Houston-based district. This stance reflected his broader concerns about federal budget priorities and the allocation of national resources. His willingness to oppose projects that promised local economic benefits underscored his reputation as a legislator guided by principle and fiscal skepticism rather than purely parochial interests.

Washington’s congressional career came to an end following the 1994 election cycle. In March 1994, he faced a strong challenge in the Democratic primary from Houston City Councilwoman Sheila Jackson Lee. In that primary contest, Washington was decisively defeated, receiving only 36.5 percent of the vote. Jackson Lee went on to win the general election in November 1994 and succeeded him as the representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district, a seat she held from January 3, 1995, until her death on July 19, 2024. Washington’s defeat marked the conclusion of his federal legislative service after three terms in Congress.

Since leaving Congress in January 1995, Craig Anthony Washington has continued his professional career as an attorney. He has practiced law in Houston and Bastrop, Texas, maintaining his engagement with legal and civic affairs. As an African-American lawyer and former member of both the Texas Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington remains part of the broader history of African-American political leadership in the United States, particularly in the context of Texas’s transition to single-member districts and the expansion of minority representation in state and national government.