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Craig Williams (Pennsylvania politician)

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Craig Williams
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 160th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byStephen Barrar
Personal details
Born (1965-11-07) November 7, 1965 (age 59)
Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJennifer
Children4
EducationDuke University (BA)
University of Florida (JD)
Columbia University (LLM)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps

Wendell Craig Williams is a former federal prosecutor, Assistant United States Attorney, member of the United States Marine Corps, and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 160th district. He received his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1987, his J.D. degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1997 and his master's degree from Columbia University in 2001.[1]

Williams served as second lieutenant during the Persian Gulf War. He was later promoted to colonel in the United States Marine Corps.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Craig Williams lives in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jennifer Arbittier Williams, an Assistant United States Attorney,[2] and their four children: Emma, Clayton, Cole, and Charlotte.

Career

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Marines

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In 1987, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, he flew 56 combat missions in the F/A-18D Hornet. In 1996, he became a Marine Judge Advocate and joined the Reserves. In 2005, he was mobilized to active duty to serve as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was later selected for promotion to the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps.[citation needed]

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Williams with former PA Governor Tom Ridge

Williams worked as a federal prosecutor, and served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. During active duty, he served as deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Williams clerked with the Honorable J.L. Edmondson, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Colorado and Pennsylvania, and worked under former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers and General Peter Pace.

2008 congressional campaign

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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008 § District 7

Craig Williams announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district (map). on January 16, 2008.[3] He was endorsed by several high-profile organizations,[4] including The Philadelphia Inquirer.[5] He also received endorsements from, among others, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin,[6] Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, all of whom also campaigned for Williams.[7][8] His campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, losing to the incumbent Joe Sestak.[9]

2020 House of Representatives campaign

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See also: 2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election

Williams was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020.

2024 Attorney General election

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In November 2023, Williams announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2024 Pennsylvania Attorney General election. Williams was refused an endorse from both the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and the Pennsylvania Republican Party, who both endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday instead. The snubs came after Williams boasted before entering the race that he would earn the RAGA endorsement. He has since bucked party support, claiming the endorsements are the work of "Harrisburg insiders" propping up Sunday,[10][11] "a[n] inactive prosecutor who is as progressive as Larry Krasner in Philadelphia," according to Williams.[12] Williams lost to Sunday 70-30.[13]

Electoral history

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  • 2008 Race for Congress
    • Joe Sestak (D) (inc.), 59.6%
    • Wendell Craig Williams (R), 40.4%

References

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  1. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  2. ^ "Jennifer Arbittier Williams". August 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Delco GOP picks Gulf vet to face Sestak
  4. ^ Craig Williams endorsements Archived November 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Craig endorsed by The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Craig and Palin
  7. ^ "Tom Ridge endorses Williams". Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  8. ^ Rudy and Craig Archived November 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Sestak Vs. Williams Archived December 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (November 30, 2023). "GOP state Rep. Craig Williams, who helped impeach Larry Krasner, is running for Pa. attorney general". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  11. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (January 22, 2024). "Pennsylvania GOP endorses York County DA for attorney general". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Owens, Dennis; Weaver, Jared (February 28, 2024). "Dave Sunday, Craig Williams to square off in Pennsylvania Attorney General Republican debate". abc27 WHTM. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Dave Sunday wins Republican primary in attorney general race". WTAE-TV. Hearst Television Inc. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 160th district
2021–present 		Incumbent
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