Tom Craddick

Texas House of Representatives While he was a doctoral student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Craddick decided to run for the legislature to succeed the incumbent Republican Frank Kell Cahoon of Midland, who was not seeking a third two-year term. At that time in Texas, a legislator did not need to be in the majority party in order to chair a committee.

In 1989, Craddick authored a measure to urge the US Congress to open oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In January 2019, he achieved 50 years in the Texas House. Since 2021, he has shared the title with Senfronia Thompson, the longest serving female representative.

In March 2011, Craddick collapsed at the State Capitol while speaking about a bill in front of the Transportation Committee. His office later said that he was not seriously injured and it was related to a leg problem that Craddick was healing from.

Beginning in 2011, Craddick tried to get a bill passed banning texting while driving. In March 2015, the Texas House Transportation Committee unanimously passed House Bill 80, authored by Craddick, banning texting while driving. This bill never made it to the full House. On May 17, 2019, the Senate amended Craddick's bill, House Bill 62, with a vote of 23-8, in favor. On June 6, 2017, House Bill 62 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, effective September 1, 2017.

In 2023, Craddick authored a bill to replace "mental retardation" in Texas Government Codes to "intellectual disability". This was signed into law by Governor Abbott in May 2023.

On July 1, 2025, Craddick announced he would be running in 2026 for his 30th term. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary and is running against Democrat Cathy Broadrick in the general election. Supporters of Pitts pressed for a secret ballot in order to avoid retribution should their efforts fail, When the secret ballot measure failed, Pitts withdrew, and Craddick was re-elected to a third term as Speaker on January 9, 2007, by a vote of 121-27.

Removal Attempt Craddick became increasingly unpopular with not only Democrats but those of his own party, and many called for a new Speaker to be elected. In the most extreme case, Craddick's political views and leadership compelled Kirk England (R-Grand Prairie) to change parties and run for re-election as a Democrat in 2008. Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on May 25, 2007, when Fred Hill, a Republican from Richardson, attempted to raise a question of privilege to remove Craddick from office, but Craddick refused to Recognize him to make the motion. The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed for a time. Craddick's close allies, such as Representative Phil King of Weatherford, said that the actions against the Speaker were an effort by Democrats to gain control of the legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011. His parliamentarian, Denise Davis disagreed, stating that a question of privilege relating to the removal of a Speaker from office is such a highly privileged one that the Speaker may not refuse recognition. When Craddick shunned her advice, Davis and her assistant, Chris Griesel, resigned. Craddick immediately hired former Representative Terry Keel of Austin to the post as well as former Representative Ron Wilson as Keel's assistant. The new parliamentarians upheld Craddick's decision and the session resumed until 1 a.m. and despite further protests from members of the legislature, Craddick remained in his position as Speaker, and the session was recessed. Straus remained speaker for five terms until his retirement from the House in January 2019. The last Texas House Speaker to be removed had also been a Republican, Ira Hobart Evans, who was rejected in 1871 for cooperating with Democrats on an elections bill. She is of Lebanese descent. They have two children, a daughter Christi Craddick, and a son, Thomas Jr., as well as a grandson, Thomas Russell Craddick III. In 1976, Craddick created the Craddick Children's Trust for his two children. In 2013, it was transferred to Quarry, an oil company owned by them. Tom Craddick is president of Craddick, Inc., a sales representative for Horizon Mud Company and owns Craddick Properties.

Tom and Christi Craddick both have ownership interests in 360 oil and gas leases in the 22 counties across Texas, with a value of over $20 million. Craddick receives royalties of more than $2 million per year for brokering extraction lease sales, which are potential conflicts of interest as he sits on the committee that oversees the state's oil industry. Craddick was elected to the board of directors of Mexco Energy Corporation in March 1998, which brings the number of leases they are involved with to over 600. Craddick introduced a bill that would preserve the interests of holders of overriding royalties such as his own; he has reintroduced it after it was vetoed by Governor Abbott.

Craddick and his wife have founded several scholarship funds including: The Tom and Nadine Craddick Presidential Scholarship Endowment for the Texas Tech University System, the Nadine and Tom Craddick Distinguished Chair in Medical Science Endowment for The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the Nadine Craddick Endowment Fund for the Midland Memorial Foundation at Midland Memorial Hospital. His picture is featured in there.

On January 28, 2025, The Midland International Air and Space Port unveiled a sculpture of Tom and Nadine to honor them.

Electoral history Summary

Craddick has won 29 elections since 1968, being uncontested in all his primary runs, except 1968, and uncontested in the 1974, 1978-1982, 1986, 1992-1998, 2002-2006, 2010-2016, 2020 and 2022 general elections, or 17 out 30 elections. He routinely garnered at least 70% of the vote in his contested elections, with only two elections where he received less, being in 1970 when he received 52.2% and in 2008 when he received 62.12%.

Texas House, 70th district (1968, 1970)

1968 On February 9, 1968, he entered the race the day after incumbent, Frank Kell Cahoon, announced that he would not run for re-election for Texas House District 70.

Craddick ran against Joe S. Davis in the Republican primary. He ran against Democrat Ray O. Howard in the general election and won his first term.

Election box begin no change|title=1968 Texas House District 70 Primary Election He ran against Democrat Bob Northington in the general election and won his second term.

Election box begin no change|title=1970 District 70 General Election This was the first election Craddick ran for the 68th district. He then ran against Democrat Willie B. DuBose in the general election and won a third term.

Election box begin no change|title=1972 District 68 General Election and general elections and was re-elected to a fourth term.

1976

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He then was running against Democrat John B. Billingsley Jr. until he dropped out the race in July 1976 citing "personal reasons".

Election box begin no change|title=1976 District 68 General Election He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 13,564 votes and re-election to a sixth term.

1980

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary and received 6,229 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 22,946 votes and re-election to a seventh term.

Texas House, 76th district (1982–1990)

1982

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary. This was the first election Craddick ran for the 76th district. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 18,873 votes and re-election to an eighth term.

1984

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He then ran against Democrat G. David Smith in the general election and won a ninth term.

Election box begin no change|title=1984 District 76 General Election He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 21,770 votes and re-election to a tenth term.

1988

He ran unopposed in the Republican primary, winning 2,285 votes. He then ran against Libertarian Leonard Oth Carl in the general election and won re-election to an eleventh term.

Election box begin no change|title=1988 District 76 General Election He then ran against Libertarian Len Caryl in the general election and won re-election to a twelfth term.

Election box begin no change|title=1990 District 76 General Election This was the first election Craddick ran for the 82nd district. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 32,539 votes and re-election to a thirteenth term.

1994

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 8,024 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 26,034 votes and re-election to a fourteenth term.

1996

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,289 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 30,771 votes and re-election to a fifteenth term. 1998

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 8,329 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 22,086 votes and re-election to a sixteenth term.

2000

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 16,007 votes. He then ran against Democrat Gilberto M. Garcia in the general election and won re-election to a seventeenth term.

2002

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 5,651 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 28,968 votes and re-election to an eighteenth term.

2004

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 10,076 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 42,237 votes and re-election to a nineteenth term.

2006

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 5,439 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 24,187 votes and re-election to a 20th term.

2008

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 11,962 votes. He then ran against Democrat Bill Dingus and Libertarian Sherry Phillips in the general election and won re-election to a 21st term.

2010

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 11,555 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 28,006 votes and re-election to a 22nd term.

2012

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 10,945 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 42,572 votes and re-election to a 23rd term.

2014

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,129 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 24,262 votes and re-election to a 24th term.

2016

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 20,819 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 47,432 votes and re-election to a 25th term.

2018

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, winning 13,973 votes. He then ran against Democrat Spencer Bounds in the general election and won re-election to a 26th term.

2020

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 22,604 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election, winning 61,068 votes and won re-election to a 27th term.

2022

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, gaining 13,643 votes. He then ran unopposed in the general election and won re-election to a 28th term.

2024

Craddick ran unopposed in the Republican primary, winning 15,128 votes.

Election box begin no change title = 2024 District 82 general election He ran unopposed in the Republican primary election and won 13,631 votes.