Ellen Craswell
Encyclopedia
Ellen Craswell was an American
politician, a former Washington state legislator, and a candidate in the 1996 Washington gubernatorial election
. She ran as a Republican
, but grew disillusioned with the party and later joined the American Heritage Party
, the Washington State affiliate of the Constitution Party
. She resided in Poulsbo, Washington
with her husband and fellow politician, Bruce Craswell.
Ray Aardal, with 54.63% of the vote. She won landslides in both 1978 and 1980, when she became a state Senator
. From 1984 and onwards, she faced a series of competitive races, being reelected only after a recount in 1988 and being defeated by Democrat Betti Sheldon in 1992.
During her tenure as a senator, she earned the nickname "Senator No" for her steady refusal to vote for any tax increases. In 1987 she was appointed as the first female president pro tempore of the Senate, a position she held until the end of her career.
Primary results
General results
Mike Lowry
announced that he would not seek re-election, Craswell announced that she would run. During her legislative career, she was initially identified as a Ronald Reagan
supporter, but as time went on, she gained a strong identity as an Evangelical Christian and member of the Christian right
. Craswell was very open about her religious identity, prompting concern among some in the Republican Party that she would have difficulty in moderately liberal Washington. During the campaign, Craswell successfully appealed to suburban conservatives with more moderate social leanings by promising to repeal more than a third of state taxes and cut 30 percent of the state budget. In September 1996, she narrowly gained the primary nod, receiving 15.26% of the primary vote and defeating her nearest Republican opponent Dale Foreman, who received 13.37%.
Craswell campaigned both on fiscal issues and as an unabashed conservative Christian. She gained media coverage for comments, including those where she described herself as a "radical," declared that she would hire only "wise and godly people" as staffers, and listed God at the top of her campaign organization chart. Education also became an important issue during the campaign, with Craswell supporting heavy localization and a tuition
-based system for all schools, and Democratic
opponent Gary Locke supporting a more state-centric system. Craswell successfully ran a grassroots
campaign, receiving campaign contributions from only individuals and advertising only on billboards and yard signs and at campaign events.
Craswell's outspoken position on social issues – including comments that gay rights were "special rights for sodomites" – did not resonate with voters in the state. In November, Craswell was defeated by Locke, receiving only 42.04% of the vote.
(AHP). Her husband, Bruce, ran under the party's banner in the 1st congressional district
and received 6.11%.
When the AHP (then a state affiliate of the Constitution Party
) attempted to disaffiliate from the national party (CP
), it caused an acrimonious schism resulting in non-renewal by over 90 percent of the state party members. The Craswells left both the American Heritage Party and the Constitution Party, refusing to take sides, and became independents.
Craswell lived with her family in the Poulsbo, Washington area, until her death on April 5, 2008. She had four children and 14 grandchildren. She had been diagnosed with cancer
twice before, but succumbed to her third bout with the disease. After retiring from politics, Craswell remained fairly quiet, granting few interviews.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, a former Washington state legislator, and a candidate in the 1996 Washington gubernatorial election
Washington gubernatorial election, 1996
The state of Washington holds its gubernatorial elections every four years, concurrently with United States presidential elections. The 1996 gubernatorial election was especially significant in that it resulted in Washington electing the first Asian American governor in the mainland United States...
. She ran as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, but grew disillusioned with the party and later joined the American Heritage Party
American Heritage Party
The American Heritage Party originally began in 1977 when Billy Ray Kidwell contacted Kentucky State Senators, and Congressmen, seeking assistance with forming a new political party....
, the Washington State affiliate of the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
. She resided in Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo, Washington
Poulsbo is a city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the fourth largest city in Kitsap County and one of the main suburbs of Seattle in the Kitsap area. The population was 9,200 at the 2010 census....
with her husband and fellow politician, Bruce Craswell.
Legislative career
Craswell first was elected to Washington's 23rd Legislative District. She received 33.69% of the vote against two Democrats in the 1976 primary, before going on to defeat DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Ray Aardal, with 54.63% of the vote. She won landslides in both 1978 and 1980, when she became a state Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
. From 1984 and onwards, she faced a series of competitive races, being reelected only after a recount in 1988 and being defeated by Democrat Betti Sheldon in 1992.
During her tenure as a senator, she earned the nickname "Senator No" for her steady refusal to vote for any tax increases. In 1987 she was appointed as the first female president pro tempore of the Senate, a position she held until the end of her career.
Primary results
- 1976: Received 33.69% against Democrats Ray Aardal (34.28%) and Robert Randall (32.03%).
- 1978: Received 65.41% against Democrat Sharon Shrader.
- 1980: Running for the Washington State Senate, received 58.93% against Democrats Gordon WalgrenGordon WalgrenGordon Walgren was a Washington State Senator from 1967 to 1980, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1975 onward. He was convicted of racketeering prior to the 1980 election, however still won the primary....
(23.54%) and Frances Haddon Morgan (17.53%). - 1984: Received 51.31% against Democrat Sherril HuffSherril HuffSherril Huff is the current Director of Elections of King County, Washington. In 1984, Huff ran in the 23rd Legislative race against Ellen Craswell, and got 46% of the vote.-Career:...
. - 1988: Received 40.46% against fellow Republican Sherry Appleton (30.45%) and Democrat Bob Griffith (29.09%).
- 1992: Received 42.23% against Democrat Betti Sheldon (28.89%) and fellow Republican Sherry Appleton (28.88%).
General results
- 1976: Received 54.63% against Democrat Ray Aardal.
- 1978: Received 66.43% against Democrat Sharon Shrader.
- 1980: Running for Washington State Senate, received 73.52% against Democrat Gordon Walgren.
- 1984: Received 54.00% against Democrat Sherril HuffSherril HuffSherril Huff is the current Director of Elections of King County, Washington. In 1984, Huff ran in the 23rd Legislative race against Ellen Craswell, and got 46% of the vote.-Career:...
. - 1988: Received 51.06% against Democrat Bob Griffith.
- 1992: Defeated after receiving 44.62% against Democrat Betti Sheldon.
1996 Washington gubernatorial election
After DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Mike Lowry
Mike Lowry
Michael Edward "Mike" Lowry served as the 20th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1993 to 1997. Lowry is a Democrat.Lowry was born and raised in St. John, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University in 1962...
announced that he would not seek re-election, Craswell announced that she would run. During her legislative career, she was initially identified as a Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
supporter, but as time went on, she gained a strong identity as an Evangelical Christian and member of the Christian right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
. Craswell was very open about her religious identity, prompting concern among some in the Republican Party that she would have difficulty in moderately liberal Washington. During the campaign, Craswell successfully appealed to suburban conservatives with more moderate social leanings by promising to repeal more than a third of state taxes and cut 30 percent of the state budget. In September 1996, she narrowly gained the primary nod, receiving 15.26% of the primary vote and defeating her nearest Republican opponent Dale Foreman, who received 13.37%.
Craswell campaigned both on fiscal issues and as an unabashed conservative Christian. She gained media coverage for comments, including those where she described herself as a "radical," declared that she would hire only "wise and godly people" as staffers, and listed God at the top of her campaign organization chart. Education also became an important issue during the campaign, with Craswell supporting heavy localization and a tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
-based system for all schools, and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent Gary Locke supporting a more state-centric system. Craswell successfully ran a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
campaign, receiving campaign contributions from only individuals and advertising only on billboards and yard signs and at campaign events.
Craswell's outspoken position on social issues – including comments that gay rights were "special rights for sodomites" – did not resonate with voters in the state. In November, Craswell was defeated by Locke, receiving only 42.04% of the vote.
Subsequent activity
Following her defeat in the election, Craswell switched party affiliation to the Christian right American Heritage PartyAmerican Heritage Party
The American Heritage Party originally began in 1977 when Billy Ray Kidwell contacted Kentucky State Senators, and Congressmen, seeking assistance with forming a new political party....
(AHP). Her husband, Bruce, ran under the party's banner in the 1st congressional district
Washington's 1st congressional district
Washington's 1st congressional district encompasses part of Northwest Seattle and largely suburban areas north and east of Seattle including Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, Kirkland and Redmond as well as Bainbridge Island and part of the Kitsap Peninsula. It is currently...
and received 6.11%.
When the AHP (then a state affiliate of the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
) attempted to disaffiliate from the national party (CP
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
), it caused an acrimonious schism resulting in non-renewal by over 90 percent of the state party members. The Craswells left both the American Heritage Party and the Constitution Party, refusing to take sides, and became independents.
Craswell lived with her family in the Poulsbo, Washington area, until her death on April 5, 2008. She had four children and 14 grandchildren. She had been diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
twice before, but succumbed to her third bout with the disease. After retiring from politics, Craswell remained fairly quiet, granting few interviews.
External links
- A 2005 interview with Ellen Craswell (Seattle Times Magazine)
- 1996 Gubernatorial Election Results (Washington Secretary of State Election Results)
- Candidate Bios (Ellen Craswell Candidate Page)
- (CNN AllPolitics)
- TVW.org (televised memorial service at Christ Memorial Church, Poulsbo, WA, April 16, 2008)