Craig Williams (Pennsylvania politician)

Craig Williams
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 160th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2021[1]
Preceded byStephen Barrar
Personal details
Born
Selma, Alabama, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseJennifer
Children4
EducationDuke University (BA)
University of Florida (JD (High Honors))
Columbia University (LLM (High Honors))
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
RankColonel

Wendell Craig Williams is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 160th district and a former federal prosecutor. Williams served as a second lieutenant during the Persian Gulf War and retired from the United States Marine Corps as a colonel.

Education

Williams 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.[2]

Career

Marines

In 1987, Williams was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, he flew 56 combat missions in the F/A-18D Hornet. In 1997, he became a Marine Judge Advocate and commanded law units at Marine Base Camp Pendleton, California. He left active duty in 2000 and joined the Marine Corps 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 retired at the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps.[3]

Williams with former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge

Williams worked as Assistant General Counsel for PECO,[4] 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. He clerked with the Honorable J.L. Edmondson, the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Williams 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

Williams announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district on January 16, 2008.[5] He was endorsed by several organizations,[6] including The Philadelphia Inquirer.[7] He also received endorsements from, among others, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin,[8] Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, all of whom also campaigned for Williams.[9][10] His campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, losing to the incumbent Joe Sestak.[11]

2020 House of Representatives campaign

Williams was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020 to represent District 160.[12] He was reelected in 2022[13] and 2024.[3] One of his initiatives was securing a grant for a Project Safe Neighborhoods program aimed at increasing prosecution of gun violence.[14] In 2022 he criticized Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro for not using his full authority to prosecute gun crimes.[14]

In 2026, Williams proposed the Pennsylvania Ratepayer Protection Act (House Bill 2372), which requires data center developers to construct or contract their own new electricity generation sources, as part of addressing rising electricity costs.[15]

2024 attorney general election

In November 2023, Williams announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2024 Pennsylvania attorney general election. He was refused endorsements from both the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and the Pennsylvania Republican Party, who both endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday instead. The refusals came after Williams said before entering the race that he would earn the RAGA endorsement. He said the endorsements were the work of "Harrisburg insiders" propping up Sunday,[16][17] "a[n] inactive prosecutor who is as progressive as Larry Krasner in Philadelphia".[18] Williams lost to Sunday 70-30.[19]

Personal life

Williams lives in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jennifer Arbittier Williams, an assistant United States attorney.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Craig Williams Sworn In as State House Representative" (Press release). Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Craig Williams' Biography". Vote Smart. Aristotle International, Inc. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Stein, Linda (November 6, 2024). "Amid Onslaught of Negative Ads, Williams Holds DelVal House Seat". Delaware Valley Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Pa. election 2024: Who is Craig Williams, a Republican running for Pa. attorney general?". WHYY. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ Schaefer, Mari A. (January 16, 2008). "Delco GOP picks Gulf vet to face Sestak". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Professional Endorsements". Craig Williams for Congress. Archived from the original on November 26, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Inquirer Endorses Every House Incumbent in Philly and Suburbs Except Sestak". The Hill. October 24, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Craig and Palin
  9. ↑ "Tom Ridge endorses Williams". Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  10. ↑ Rudy and Craig Archived November 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Sestak Vs. Williams Archived December 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "Pa. election 2024: Who is Craig Williams, a Republican running for Pa. attorney general?". WHYY. April 11, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Incumbent Williams defeats Spahr in race for suburban state House seat". WHYY. November 10, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Stein, Linda (January 26, 2022). "DelVal Rep. Williams Calls Out Shapiro over Philly Gun Violence, Wants More State Action on Crime". Delaware Valley Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ "GOP bill would make Pa. law from Trump administration accords on data centers". News From The States. June 8, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ McGoldrick, Gillian (January 22, 2024). "Pennsylvania GOP endorses York County DA for attorney general". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ "Dave Sunday wins Republican primary in attorney general race". WTAE-TV. Hearst Television Inc. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Lecturer in Law Jennifer Arbittier Williams C'92, L'95 secures Dougherty and Henon convictions". University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. November 19, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
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