Larry Craig
Lawrence Edwin Craig (born July 20, 1945) is an American retired politician and rancher who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st congressional district from 1981 to 1991 and as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1991 to 2009.[1][2] A fiscal and social conservative raised on a family ranch homesteaded by his grandfather, Craig advocated for agricultural interests, free trade, energy independence, and limited government during his congressional tenure, rising to the position of chairman of the Senate Republican Conference from 2003 to 2007.[3][4] His career concluded after a June 2007 arrest at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport for disorderly conduct, based on an undercover officer's interpretation of foot movements and gestures in a restroom stall as signals for sexual solicitation—a charge Craig denied committing any wrongdoing and attributed to a misunderstanding of his "wide stance" while attempting to avoid urine splash.[5] Craig initially pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor without consulting counsel or notifying Senate leadership, but subsequently sought to withdraw the plea citing ineffective assistance of counsel; courts upheld the conviction, though he completed his term without further legal repercussions beyond the plea.[6][7]Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family Origins
Larry Edwin Craig was born on July 20, 1945, in Council, Adams County, Idaho, into a ranching family.[1] The family's operations centered on agriculture and livestock in the rural northwest region of the state, reflecting the agrarian economy dominant in Adams and nearby Washington Counties during the mid-20th century.[3] Craig spent his early years on the family ranch near Midvale, Idaho, established through homesteading by his grandfather in 1899.[8] This isolated, self-sufficient setting involved hands-on labor in farming and ranching, exposing him from childhood to the practical demands of rural life, including crop management, animal husbandry, and seasonal fieldwork typical of Idaho's high desert terrain.[8] The conservative cultural milieu of rural Idaho, with its emphasis on individual responsibility and limited government intervention amid sparse population and harsh natural conditions, formed the backdrop for Craig's formative experiences.[3] Family-centered traditions in such communities prioritized hard work and frugality, traits aligned with the self-reliant ethos of Western ranching families during the post-World War II era.[8]Education and Early Influences
Craig earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Idaho in 1969.[3] During his university years, he served as student body president for the 1968-1969 term and became the first student lobbyist representing the institution to the Idaho Legislature.[9] He also held the position of national vice president of the Future Farmers of America from 1966 to 1967.[10] Following graduation, Craig pursued graduate studies at George Washington University.[9] Before launching his political career, Craig engaged in his family's ranching operations in Idaho, acquiring hands-on knowledge of agriculture and land management essential to the state's rural economy.[11] These endeavors, combined with his student leadership roles, fostered practical business skills and an appreciation for self-reliant enterprise amid Idaho's resource-dependent landscape.[9]Military Service
Service in the Idaho Army National Guard
Larry Craig enlisted in the Idaho Army National Guard in 1970, during the Vietnam War era, and served for approximately two years until his honorable discharge in 1972.[9][12] His service occurred stateside, with no overseas deployment or combat experience, aligning with the National Guard's primary role in domestic readiness and support for federal missions as needed.[3][13] Craig attained the rank of Private First Class (E-3) during his tenure, performing duties consistent with enlisted personnel in a reserve component unit focused on training and local defense preparedness.[12] Some accounts indicate his discharge followed about 20 months of active participation in a planned six-year enlistment commitment, possibly due to medical reasons, though it remained honorable.[9][12] This period of service reflected a commitment to military obligations amid national tensions over the Vietnam conflict, emphasizing discipline and patriotism through reserve training rather than frontline engagement.[13]Post-Service Transition to Civilian Life
Following his honorable discharge from the Idaho Army National Guard in 1972 as a Private First Class, Larry Craig returned to the family ranching operation near Council in Washington County, Idaho, where he had already begun working after earning his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Idaho in 1969.[11][9] He focused on agriculture-related pursuits as a farmer-rancher, managing livestock and land in the rural Payette Valley region, which reinforced his economic ties to Idaho's conservative agrarian base.[3][4] This transition emphasized continuity with his rural upbringing, avoiding relocation to urban areas and instead deepening involvement in local farming networks amid Idaho's post-Vietnam agricultural economy, characterized by family-operated ranches facing federal land-use pressures. Craig's ranching role from 1971 onward positioned him within tight-knit communities of Washington and Payette counties, fostering relationships with fellow producers and conservative stakeholders that proved instrumental for his 1974 state senate candidacy, endorsed by retiring incumbent Jack Bivens.[9][10] By sustaining a low-profile, Idaho-centric lifestyle centered on ranch operations rather than external professional ventures, Craig exemplified the self-reliant ethos of rural conservatism, prioritizing local resource management over broader metropolitan influences during the early 1970s.[9][4]Political Beginnings
Idaho State Legislature
Larry Craig was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1974, representing District 15, which encompassed Payette and Washington counties in the state's rural western region.[4] Running as a Republican, he secured the seat unopposed in both the primary and general elections after receiving the endorsement of the retiring incumbent senator.[9] This victory marked his entry into elective office, building on his prior involvement in Republican Party activities and student leadership at the University of Idaho. Craig was reelected in 1976 and 1978, serving three terms through 1980.[8] During this period, he established himself as a steadfast conservative legislator in Idaho's Republican-dominated assembly, emphasizing fiscal restraint and local control in a state heavily reliant on agriculture and resource extraction. His work aligned with priorities such as protecting private property rights and advocating for reduced taxation to support rural economies, consistent with his representation of farming communities facing economic pressures from federal policies.[14] In the Senate, Craig opposed measures perceived as expanding government overreach, particularly those impinging on Idaho's agricultural sector and land management autonomy amid tensions over federal ownership of vast public lands within the state. This stance reinforced his grassroots appeal among conservative voters, positioning him as a defender of limited government and state sovereignty before transitioning to federal office.[4]Initial Congressional Campaign and U.S. House Tenure
In the 1980 United States House election for Idaho's 1st congressional district, an open seat following Steve Symms's successful Senate campaign, Larry Craig secured victory over Democrat Glenn W. Nichols.[15] Craig, a state senator emphasizing conservative principles, positioned himself as a proponent of limited government and rural economic interests, aligning with the Reagan Republican wave that year.[9] He took office in the 97th Congress on January 3, 1981, representing a district encompassing northern and western Idaho, including key agricultural and resource extraction areas.[2] Craig won reelection in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988, serving five terms until 1990.[3] Throughout his House tenure, he consistently opposed tax hikes, including votes against measures that would have reversed elements of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, reflecting his commitment to fiscal restraint amid Reagan-era supply-side policies.[9] He backed deregulation efforts in energy and transportation sectors, arguing they bolstered Idaho's economy by reducing federal overreach on private enterprise.[14] A staunch defender of Western resource industries, Craig advocated for timber harvesting and mining on federal lands, criticizing environmental restrictions as detrimental to rural employment and Idaho's extractive sectors.[16] His positions prioritized local economic needs over expansive federal protections, often clashing with national conservation lobbies during debates on public land management in the 1980s.[17] This focus underscored his representation of Idaho's timber-dependent communities and mining operations, which faced increasing regulatory pressures from agencies like the Forest Service.[8]U.S. Senate Career
Elections and Terms Served
Craig was elected to the U.S. Senate from Idaho in the November 6, 1990, general election, defeating Democratic nominee Ron Twilegar, a former state legislator, with 61.3% of the vote (167,486 votes) to Twilegar's 38.7% (105,898 votes).[18] Running to succeed retiring Republican incumbent Steve Symms, whose term ended January 3, 1991, Craig secured the Republican nomination after a competitive primary against state Senator Jim Whitaker, whom he defeated 58%-42%.[1] His victory reflected Idaho's strong Republican leanings, where the state had not elected a Democratic senator since 1962. Craig was sworn in on January 3, 1991, beginning his first six-year term. Seeking re-election in 1996, Craig faced Democrat Walt Minnick, a Boise businessman, in a race that saw Craig prevail with 57.0% of the vote (283,532 votes) to Minnick's 39.9% (198,422 votes), with the remainder going to minor candidates including Natural Law nominee Susan Gorrell.[19] The election, held November 5, 1996, featured limited Democratic spending and no major controversies, underscoring the GOP's dominance in the conservative, rural state. Craig's campaign highlighted fiscal restraint and opposition to federal overreach, themes resonant with Idaho voters prioritizing limited government. He began his second term on January 3, 1997. In the 2002 election, Craig won a third term against underfunded Democrat Alan Blinken, a former state party chairman, capturing approximately 65% of the vote to Blinken's 32%, with Libertarian Donovan Bramwell taking the balance.[20] The November 5 contest drew low turnout amid national focus on House races, but Craig's margin affirmed his entrenched support in Idaho's Republican base, where Democrats mounted no viable statewide challenge. His platforms consistently emphasized states' rights, reduced federal spending, and agricultural interests key to the state's economy. Craig's third term commenced January 3, 2003, extending his Senate service through January 3, 2009.| Election Year | Opponent (Party) | Craig Vote Share | Opponent Vote Share | Total Votes Cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Ron Twilegar (D) | 61.3% | 38.7% | 273,384 |
| 1996 | Walt Minnick (D) | 57.0% | 39.9% | 497,024 |
| 2002 | Alan Blinken (D) | 65% | 32% | ~300,000 |