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Len’s Political Note #592 Angie Craig Minnesota 02
2024 General Election
Every year Angie Craig is seen as vulnerable.
- She lost her first race in 2016 46.9-45.2 to right wing activist Jason Lewis
- She defeated Jason Lewis in 2018 52.7-47.1
- She was reelected in 2020 defeating Ex Marine Tyler Kistner, who exaggerated his combat record 48.2-45.9
- In 2022, she finally got more than 50% of the vote, defeating Tyler Kistner again 50.9 – 45.7 and even then she is #27 on Len’s List of Vulnerable Democratic Incumbents and #13 on Daily Kos’s List.
Angie Craig’s career and her vulnerabilities remind us that politicians are individual human beings whose personal experiences are a product of who they are and form who they become. Angie Craig had gained a measure of notoriety before she came to Minnesota.
Angie Craig was born and raised in West Helena, Arkansas. West Helena has a population of less than 9,000 people and is part of the city of Helena-West Helena which has a total population a little over 12,000 people. One third of the population of West Helena is white; the balance is Black. When she was young, she moved from one trailer park to another, living in Gosnell and then in Jonesboro. She went to Nettleton High School in Jonesboro – not a bad place for a poor, ambitious girl from the South. For instance, Nettleton High School is proud that it offers Advanced Placement courses. From high school, Angie Craig went to the University of Memphis (then Memphis State) where she majored in journalism and wrote for the college newspaper,
With 22,000 students these days, Memphis is a big school in a big city. With a population of more than 600,000 people, Memphis is now the 25th largest city in the country, slightly smaller than Washington, DC. After graduation, Angie Craig went to work for The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis. She stayed in Memphis for 11 years, moving on from the newspaper to work for a medical device manufacturer named Smith and Nephew,
Angie Craig had a partner in Memphis, Deborah Langston. They wanted children and hoped to adopt. Tennessee did not allow for adoption by same sex couples. Opposition to same sex couple’s adoption of children at that time was fervent. In Tennessee, the wishes of a parent giving up a child for adoption was a crucial factor in obtaining formal approval of an adoption.
Angie Craig and Deborah Langston had met a pregnant young woman named Christina Snyder. Christina Snyder agreed to give up her child for adoption to Deborah Langston. Angie Craig was identified as Langston’s roommate, not her partner. Langston was in the delivery room with Christina Snyder. Angie Craigpaced outside the room like an expectant father.
Wolfgang and Cindy Snyder were already raising their daughter Christina’s four year old. They wanted to raise this child as well and certainly would not allow their grandchild to be raised by a Lesbian couple. The grandparents told their daughter that if she gave up this child, she could not come home and would never see her older son again. Christina Snyder reversed her decision about Deborah Langston adopting the child.
Four months later, Christina Snyder left her parents’ home taking her son with her. Homeless, they were living temporarily in friends’ homes. She sent a friend to contact Deborah Langston and Angie Craig. The two women met with Christina Snyder and took the four month old Joshua home with them. Wolfgang and Cindy Snyder filed papers to adopt Joshua. In court they argued that Deborah Langston was not a fit parent.
This time, Christina Snyder was clear that she wanted Deborah Langston to adopt. The trial court sided with Chistina Snyder, Langston and Angie Craig. So did the Appeals Court, by a 2-1 margin. The dissenter argued that co-parenting Lesbians could never be appropriate parents of an adoptee. Deborah Langston and Angie Craig, with their two children (Joshua and a child of Angie’s that was a product of artificial insemination) got out of town – as far away as they could go. They tried London and then returned to the States.
In 2005, Angie Craig went to work for the St. Jude Hospital in Minneapolis, choosing a location and employer that would be welcoming. In 2006, the two women separated. Deborah Langston returned to Tennessee. Joshua spent school years with Deborah in Tennessee; summers with Angie Craig in Minnesota. In 2007, Christina Snyder died, unbeknownst to Deborah Langston, Angie Craig, or Joshua. Angie Craig later married Cheryl Greene. They have four sons between them.
Angie Craig had become head of communications and human resources for St. Jude in Minneapolis. And she had become active in Democratic politics. Elected to Congress, she has had a particular interest in health care. She introduced the proposal to cap the price of insulin to consumers at $35 and was one of a handful of Democrats ready to declare the Covid emergency at an end in early 2023.
In her campaign for reelection, she emphasizes her ability to work with Republicans. Public safety is almost as high a priority for her as protecting women’s reproductive rights. She sharpened that view this year when she was assaulted in the elevator of the apartment building where she lives by a man who had been arrested, but “not prosecuted fully over the course of almost a decade.” She commented “If you throw somebody in jail for 10 days and think, ‘There’s your punishment, and we’re gonna let you right back on the street.’ What the hell do you think’s gonna happen.”
That tough, strongly felt view led to campaign statements like “keeping Minnesotans safe is my most important job” and reminders of the financial support for the police Angie Craig has supported in Congress. From her position on the agriculture committee, she was also able to lead an effort reduce gas prices by permitting alternative, less expensive bio fuels in gasoline.
On other issues, Angie Craig is clear about the importance of ensuring women’s reproductive freedom, reducing the cost of health care, and supporting the civil rights of members of various minorities. Her district begins south of Minneapolis and continues southwest into rural Minnesota. On behalf of her district and other rural districts, she led an effort to create a White House Office of Rural Prosperity.
There are a couple of Republicans interested in running against her. Defense attorney Taylor Rahm appears to be the closest to a serious candidate. She is ready for him and had $1.1 million available on July 1. Rahm announced his candidacy at the beginning of June and raised $50,000 in a month. He will have to raise a lot more to compete. Help discourage him by donating to Angie Craig.
Other Vulnerable Midwestern House Democrats to support
Eric Sorenson. Illinois 17 #12 on Len’s List of Vulnerable Democrats and tied for #16 on Daily Kos’s list. Len’s Political Note #552
Frank Mrvan. Indiana 01 #18 on Len’s List. Len’s Political Note #576
Emilia Sykes, Ohio 13 #24 on Len’s List and #15 on Daily Kos’s List. Len’s Political Note #591
Greg Landsman. Ohio 01 #26 on Len’s List and #21 on Daily Kos’s.
Dan Kildee Michigan 08 #37 on Len’s List and tied for #28 on Daily Kos’s.
Nikki Budzinski Illinois 13 is on the DCCC List.
Sharice Davids Kansas 03 is on the DCCC List.
Marcy Kaptur Ohio 09 is on the DCCC List. Len’s Political Note #554
Hillary Scholten Wisconsin Michigan 03 is on the DCCC List
Vulnerable Midwestern Senate Seats to Protect
Tammy Baldwin Wisconsin Len’s Political Note #570
Sherrod Brown Ohio Len’s Political Note #556
Elissa Slotkin Michigan Len’s Political Note #589
2023 Elections are coming. Help Democratic candidates now. (Shawn Wilson should be one of the top two in Louisiana tomorrow.) Can you help him win in November?
Kentucky election day November 7, 2023
Mississippi election day November 7, 2023
Louisiana non-partisan primary October 14, 2023
Louisiana run off, top two November 18, 2023
Pennsylvania election day November 7, 2023
Virginia election day November 7, 2023
October 14 is tomorrow. November 7 is less than a month away and November 18 comes soon after that. If you are going to do something about these elections, donate now.
Democrats for Governor:
Incumbent Andy Beshear Kentucky, Formerly, the Attorney General. Len’s Political Note #533
Shawn Wilson Louisiana, Formerly the State Secretary of Transportation. Len’s Political Note #549
Brandon Presley Mississippi, Formerly one of three elected public service commissioners. Len’s Political Note #535
For State Supreme Court Justice:
Dan McCaffrey Pennsylvania, Currently an Appellate Judge. Len’s Political Note #571
For Attorney General
Colonel Pamela Stevenson Kentucky, former Senior Official in the Air Force Judge Advocate system and state rep Len’s Political Note #561
Greta Kemp Martin Mississippi, Litigation Director for Disability Rights Mississippi running against a Republican who truly deserves to be defeated. Len’s Political Note #563
For Treasurer
Dustin Granger Louisiana, Financial Advisor. Len’s Political Note #562
For Secretary of State
Buddy Wheatley Kentucky, Former Fire Chief and former state rep. Len’s Political Note #582
For a Democratic legislature than can stand up to a Republican governor.
Virginia House of Delegates: Kimberly Pope Adams, Jessica Anderson, Joshua Cole, Michael Feggans, Susanna Gibson, Joshua Thomas. See Len’s Political Note #573 of July 6, 2023
Virginia State Senate: Clint Jenkins, Monty Mason, Russet Perry, Danica Roem, Schuyler VanValkenburg. Len’s Political Note #573 of July 10, 2023
