Craig Goldman Bio
Craig Alan Goldman (born October 3, 1968) is an American politician who has represented Texas’s 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 97th district from 2013 to 2025. Before entering public office, Goldman built a career as a real estate businessman in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.
Goldman rose to national office in 2024 after winning the Republican primary to succeed retiring U.S. Representative Kay Granger. He went on to win the general election with 63.5% of the vote and was sworn in to the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025.
Early Life and Background
Craig Alan Goldman was born on October 3, 1968, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he spent his formative years. Growing up in Fort Worth shaped his early interest in local business and civic life, eventually leading him toward a career in real estate before politics.
He is Jewish, an element of his identity that has been part of his public profile. During his college years, Goldman joined Zeta Beta Tau, a historically Jewish social fraternity, reflecting his early connection to Jewish campus life and community networks.
Goldman attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government. His studies at UT Austin gave him a formal grounding in government and public policy, laying the intellectual foundation for his later work in elected office.
Path to US Politics
After completing his degree, Goldman returned to Fort Worth and built a professional career as a real estate businessman. His years in the private sector gave him direct experience with property development, local markets, and the regulatory environment that shapes Texas cities.
His transition into public office began in 2012, when he sought a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. That campaign marked his formal entry into politics and set the stage for more than a decade of service in the state legislature.
Goldman’s business background and ties to the Fort Worth community helped establish him as a credible Republican candidate in a conservative North Texas district. Those local roots and his reputation as a practical businessman positioned him for sustained electoral success.
Craig Goldman Career
Early Career (2013-2020)
Craig Alan Goldman was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012, succeeding Mark M. Shelton in the 97th district with 59.4% of the vote. He assumed office on January 8, 2013, beginning a long tenure in the state legislature.
Throughout the 2010s, Goldman built a record as a Republican legislator representing his Fort Worth-based district, focusing on issues tied to local economic development and conservative priorities. His early years in the Texas House helped him cultivate the political relationships and policy experience that would later support a run for federal office.
Breakthrough (2021-2024)
In 2024, Goldman decided to run for the United States House of Representatives, seeking to represent Texas’s 12th congressional district. The seat was opening up because longtime incumbent Kay Granger announced her retirement, creating an open race that drew significant Republican interest.
Goldman won the Republican primary, defeating John O’Shea to secure the GOP nomination. The primary victory positioned him as the Republican standard-bearer in a heavily Republican North Texas district.
He then won the general election with 63.5% of the vote, a decisive margin that reflected the district’s conservative lean and his own political strength. The win earned him a seat in the U.S. House and marked the defining moment of his political career.
Republican Era (2025-Present)
Craig Alan Goldman was sworn in to the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025, officially beginning his service as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 12th congressional district. His election continued the Republican Party’s hold on the Fort Worth-based seat.
Goldman’s congressional tenure builds directly on his twelve years in the Texas House, where he represented the 97th district from 2013 to 2025. The transition from state to federal office represents the peak of his political journey so far, extending his reach from Austin to Washington, D.C.
Notable Events and Milestones
Goldman’s most significant political milestones include his 2012 election to the Texas House, his 2024 Republican primary win over John O’Shea, and his subsequent general election victory with 63.5% of the vote. His swearing in on January 3, 2025, marked his entry into the United States Congress as the representative for Texas’s 12th congressional district.
Craig Goldman Career Wins
Craig Alan Goldman’s electoral record features two major victories at different levels of government. His first significant win came in 2012, when he captured 59.4% of the vote to claim the Texas House seat in the 97th district. His most recent and most prominent victory occurred in 2024, when he won the general election for Texas’s 12th congressional district with 63.5% of the vote.
U.S. House of Representatives Highlights
Goldman’s 2024 win for the U.S. House of Representatives stands as the headline result of his career. After winning the Republican primary against John O’Shea, he secured the general election with 63.5% of the vote, succeeding retiring Representative Kay Granger.
His congressional victory extended a string of Republican successes in the Fort Worth-area district and marked Goldman’s transition from state legislator to federal lawmaker. The swearing-in ceremony on January 3, 2025, formally launched his tenure in the 119th Congress.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond his federal win, Goldman’s earlier 2012 victory in the Texas House remains a foundational achievement, launching a twelve-year career in the state legislature. His sustained representation of the 97th district from 2013 through early 2025 demonstrated consistent electoral strength in North Texas.
Craig Goldman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Craig Alan Goldman is married to Auryn Bachman. The couple’s family life has been a steady presence alongside his political career, which has spanned more than a decade in public office.
Goldman is Jewish, and during his time at the University of Texas at Austin he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau, a historically Jewish social fraternity. His cultural and religious background has remained part of his public identity as he moved from state-level service to the United States Congress.