Craig Goldman TX-12

Craig Goldman TX-12

Summary

Craig Alan Goldman (born October 3, 1968) is an American politician. He serves as a Republican Party member for the 97th district of the Texas House of Representatives. He won election to Texas’s 12th congressional district in the 2024 election.

OnAir Post: Craig Goldman TX-12

About

Source: Campaign Site

Craig Goldman TX-12 1As a 5th generation Texan and a 4th generation native of Fort Worth, State Representative Craig Goldman is extremely proud of his family roots.  The Goldman family has been actively involved in the Fort Worth and Tarrant County community for over 100 years. It is this passion for his home and heart for service that led him to run for State Representative in 2012.

Craig has a long record of authoring and working to pass sweeping legislation that has made Texas the national model for conservative governance. In the Texas House, he has worked to secure historic funding to secure the Texas border, pass the largest property tax cut in Texas history, defend the Second Amendment, protect the unborn, ensure religious freedoms, and fight liberal attempts to defund the police. Because he is so well respected among his GOP House colleagues, they elected him to Chair the Texas House Republican Caucus.
If you were to ask Craig of all the bills he has authored which one has meant the most to him, unequivocally he would say it was the passage of “Molly Janes’s Law.” This legislation was named after Molly Jane Matheson, who died tragically in Fort Worth at the hands of a brutal predator. The law allows law enforcement agencies the ability to communicate better so they can track and apprehend these individuals, removing them from our streets and neighborhoods.

For the last two legislative sessions, Craig has served as Chairman of the Texas House Energy Resources Committee where he has worked to strengthen the Texas oil and gas industry, a bedrock of the state’s economy.

Before taking office, Craig experienced a career in both the political and business fields. He spent over two decades working on campaigns to help elect Republicans at the local, state, and national levels. Then, for nearly a decade he worked alongside his father at a family run gourmet food and wine store in Fort Worth.

Continuing his family’s history of leadership and volunteerism, Craig has proudly served on the board of directors for the Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Cowtown Executive Association, and is a founding board member for the Tarrant County College Foundation, which gives away thousands of dollars in scholarships each year.  Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in Austin.

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Finances

Source: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Stopping Illegal Immigration

Immigration is a privilege that should be reserved for those who come here legally and respect our processes and our laws.  Illegal immigration makes a mockery of those who follow the law.  Rampant, unchecked illegal immigration is an unsustainable burden to American taxpayers who must fund all of the increased costs associated with a porous border: additional law enforcement, health care, and education, not to mention the heartbreak from families subjected to the influx of deadly fentanyl.

Prioritizing Border Security

Under Joe Biden, the federal government has failed Texas by failing to secure the border. As a result, Texas has been forced to spend billions on border security in order to combat a flood of illegals, drug cartels, human trafficking, and an influx of deadly fentanyl. I voted for the toughest border security laws of any state, including the ability to arrest and deport illegals. Texas has deployed the Texas State Guard and military equipment such as gunboats and surveillance aircraft.  We are building a wall and installing security barriers.  In the last year alone, I voted for over $6 billion to upgrade border security.  As a member of Congress, I will work to force Washington to uphold their duty of securing the border.  There is no greater responsibility for the federal government than to protect the homeland and its citizens, and the Biden Administration has failed to do so.

Leadership in Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis

One of the consequences of the federal government refusing to secure the southern border is the poison of fentanyl infiltrating our state; last year, an average of five people per day died from fentanyl in Texas alone.  That’s why I decided to do something.  In the most recent legislative session, I authored HB 6, which creates a criminal offense of murder for anyone that supplies fentanyl resulting in someone’s death. Governor Abbott signed this bill into law on September 1, and we are already seeing the impact of this legislation.  Recently, the Tarrant County DA indicted a man in a fentanyl overdose death – the first of its kind to occur since the new law went into effect.  In Congress, I will keep fighting to track these people down and get them off the streets.

Backing the Blue & Ensuring Public Safety

In Congress, I will combat the “defund the police” radicals intent on undermining public safety and placing our communities at risk.  In the Texas House, I authored tough anti-crime laws to keep our streets safe and ensure justice for victims of crime. I authored Molly Jane’s Law, named after a young woman from this area who was brutally murdered by a sexual predator, to give police better tools to identify and capture sexual predators before they commit more heinous crimes.  I also authored the bill to stop large cities from defunding their police departments and passed a law to combat human trafficking, including mandatory jail time for human and sex traffickers.  To rein in rogue District Attorneys who refuse to enforce laws they disagree with, I helped pass legislation that provides for them to be removed from office. I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.

Fighting for the American Taxpayer

Americans are overtaxed, and I will support any efforts to return more of their hard-earned money back to them – just as I have done in Austin.  As State Representative, I helped pass a ban on a state income tax or wealth tax, and have fought to eliminate the Texas franchise tax.  More recently, I worked to pass the largest property tax cut in Texas history.

Defending the 2nd Amendment: A Proven Record, Endorsed by the NRA

I am proud to have voted to expand Second Amendment freedoms during my service as a State Representative.  For example, I voted to make Constitutional Carry the law in Texas, ensuring that you have the right to ensure your personal safety without government interference. As a member of Congress, I will continue to fiercely protect your Second Amendment rights and freedoms.  Here are some of my specific votes in support of your right to keep and bear arms:

  • Co-authored and voted for NRA-backed open carry law (2015)
  • Co-authored and voted for NRA-backed campus carry law (2015)
  • Voted for NRA-backed Right To Hunt & Fish Constitutional Amendment (2015)
  • Co-authored and voted for NRA-backed Tenants’ Rights law (2019)
  • Voted for NRA-backed constitutional carry law (2021)
  • Voted for NRA-backed emergency powers reform law (2021) *
  • Voted for NRA-backed Firearms Industry Non-Discrimination Act (2021) **
  • Voted for NRA-backed Travelers’ Protection law (2021) ***
  • Voted for NRA-backed Merchant Category Code bill (2023) ****
*prevents closure of firearm retailers and gun manufacturers during a future disaster
**prohibits companies that discriminate against firearms retailers and gun manufacturers from obtaining government contracts
***ensures that hotel guests can transport and store their firearms in overnight accommodations
****outlaws the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by credit card companies and woke banks to track lawful firearms purchases

Right to Life

I believe strongly that human life is worth protecting, and that has been my consistent record in the Texas House.  The Texas Heartbeat bill, which I supported, stated that if a heartbeat was detected then an abortion could not occur.  As a result of this bill, at least 35,000 lives have been protected.  As State Representative, I voted to defund abortion providers and instead fund alternatives to abortion in order to support those mothers who choose life.  In Congress I will continue to stand for the unborn.  I am the only candidate in this race with a proven pro-life record, and the only candidate endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Texas Alliance for Life.

Religious Liberty

The founders intended for Americans to be able to practice their faith and religion free from government interference.  Religious liberty is a cornerstone of American life and must be protected.  After some local governments closed down churches and houses of worship during COVID, I supported a new law which prevented this from ever again happening.

Fighting the Woke, Liberal Agenda

The so-called Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) movement seeks to inject a liberal political agenda – often targeting our energy industry – into decisions best left to the marketplace and investors.  The Biden Administration’s efforts to force ESG upon America’s investment funds would threaten millions of energy jobs, including many here in Texas. In the Texas House, I have voted to oppose ESG policies and will do so in Congress.

Protecting Our Children’s Innocence

As a State Representative, I have worked to pass legislation which protects children and will continue to do so in Congress.  First, I voted to stop harmful, experimental gender modification surgeries on minors, and these surgeries are now banned in Texas. In 2021, I voted to protect girls sports at the high school level. Just last year, I voted for the Save Women’s Sports Act, which extends that protection to women’s sports at the collegiate level. These bills ban men who claim to be women from participating in girls’ sports, ensuring the safety of these athletes.

I worked to pass a bill that prohibits sexually explicit performances and drag shows where children are present, and also a bill to protect our kids from online sexual predators.  Protecting our kids extends to the classroom and that is why I have voted to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Texas schools.  CRT is a divisive and corrosive philosophy which divides our people based on race.

A Strong National Defense for a Safe and Secure America

The world is unstable, and making certain we and our allies have strong and robust national defense is critical.  Whether from China, Russia, or Iran, the international threats are escalating and require that America be prepared.  President Ronald Reagan once said, “We maintain the peace through our strength; weakness only invites aggression.”  Locally, thousands of men and women here in Congressional District 12 play an integral role in this mission.  In December of 2016, I was there when the first F-35 was delivered to Israel, an aircraft manufactured here in the heart of the district.  It was an incredible honor to sign the fuselage for that very first F-35, especially when reflecting on the strategic importance of this aircraft in protecting not just Israel, but many of our NATO allies who have purchased the F-35 for their own national defense.   I would also add that at the federal level, national security must include defending our borders, which the current administration has failed to do and as a result has placed our nation at risk.

Standing by Israel: The only true Democracy in the Middle East

As a member of Congress, I will be a strong and unequivocal voice in support of Israel. The enemies of Israel are dangerous and relentless. The October 2023 slaughter of over 1,400 Israelis (including at least 36 Americans) at the hands of Hamas makes this reality abundantly clear. While Israeli hostages remain captive in Gaza, it is critical that Israel is able to defend herself and ultimately is able to achieve its military objective: to dismantle Hamas. There is simply no room for ambivalence or wavering on where the United States stands in this matter – the United States must continue to stand by Israel in its fight against the sheer brutality and inhumanity of Hamas.  In October, I authored a strong, unequivocal resolution expressing Texas’ support for Israel in light of the heinous attacks, and recognizing Israel’s right to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense to protect its citizens.

Less Regulation: More Jobs, Prosperity, and a Strong Economy

As a small businessman who has paid taxes and met a payroll, I am a firm believer that government regulation must be kept at bay so we don’t crush job creators.   In Congress, I will continue to support pro-growth, low tax policies that have made the Texas economy the strongest in the nation.  The hard work of taxpaying citizens and entrepreneurs in the private sector is the engine of our economic growth, not central planners in Washington, D.C.  As an example, the new digital economy, including Cryptocurrency, holds great promise and potential to create another wave of jobs, technological innovation and economic opportunity.  While we must protect citizens from unsavory operators, government shouldn’t limit the financial transactions of citizens or imperil their privacy under any regulatory framework.  My voting record in the Texas House underscore my fundamental philosophy that free markets work best, where we seek to unleash the creativity and  genius of our citizens to create new products and services for consumers, thus improving the standard of living for everyone.

Strengthening Election Integrity

To protect ballot security, Craig Goldman authored and passed a bill to stop

the process of illegal ballot harvesting. When signed into law, it was the
strongest election integrity bill in the history of Texas.

More Information

Wikipedia

Craig Alan Goldman[1] (born October 3, 1968)[2] is an American politician. He serves as a Republican Party member for the 97th district of the Texas House of Representatives.[3][4] He won election to Texas’s 12th congressional district in the 2024 election.[5]

Life and career

Goldman was born in Fort Worth, Texas, He attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning his BA degree.[2][3] He worked as a real estate businessman in Fort Worth.[3] He is Jewish.[6]

In 2012, Goldman was elected to the Texas House of Representatives,[3] succeeding Mark M. Shelton in the 97th district with 59.4% of the vote. He assumed his office on January 8, 2013.

In 2024, Goldman ran for election in the U.S. House of Representatives. He sought to represent Texas’s 12th congressional district, from which longtime representative Kay Granger was retiring. Goldman defeated John O’Shea in the Republican primary, and subsequently won the general election with 63.5% of the vote.[5]

Electoral history

2012
Texas General Election, 2012: State Representative District 97[7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 38,139 59.4
DemocraticGary Grassia24,15937.6
LibertarianRod Wingo1,1059.5
2014
Texas General Election, 2014: State Representative District 97[8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 27,977 81.6
LibertarianRod Wingo6,29518.4
2016
Texas General Election, 2016: State Representative District 97[9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 39,537 57.23
DemocraticElizabeth Tarrant27,01939.11
LibertarianPatrick Wentworth2,5313.66
2018
Texas General Election, 2018: State Representative District 97[10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 35,171 53.2
DemocraticBeth Llewellyn McLaughlin29,66544.9
LibertarianRod Wingo1,2891.9
2020
Texas General Election, 2020: State Representative District 97[11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 43,852 52.6
DemocraticElizabeth Beck37,70745.2
LibertarianRod Wingo1,8842.3
2022
Texas General Election, 2022: State Representative District 97[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 37,439 58.2
DemocraticLaurel McLaurin26,89041.8
2024
Texas General Election, 2024: Texas’s 12th congressional district[13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCraig Goldman 174,421 64.1
DemocraticTrey Hunt97,85135.9

References

  1. ^ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/article/alert-craig-goldman-wins-republican-nomination-19482992.php [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b “Representative Craig Goldman’s Biography”. Vote Smart. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d “Texas House Member”. Texas House of Representatives. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ “Craig Goldman’s Voting Records”. Vote Smart. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Myers, Doug (November 6, 2024). “Republican Craig Goldman elected to succeed Rep. Kay Granger in Congress, CBS News projects”. CBS News. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Barker James, Laurie (November 1, 2007). “Goldman, fifth generation Jewish Texan, up for State Rep. seat”. Texas Jewish Post. Fort Worth, Texas. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  7. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  8. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  9. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  10. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  11. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  12. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
  13. ^ “Craig Goldman”.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Majority Leader
2023–2024		Succeeded by

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Member from Texas’s 12th congressional district
Taking office 2025		Elect


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Goldman

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