Craig Goldman

Craig Goldman
Born	Craig Alan Goldman 3 10, 1968
Birthplace	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 12th congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 12th congressional district; former member of the Texas House of Representatives
Education	University of Texas at Austin (BA)
Spouse(s)	Auryn Bachman
Website	[craiggoldman.house.gov Official site]

Craig Alan Goldman (born October 3, 1968) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 12th congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Goldman succeeded longtime congresswoman Kay Granger, who retired after more than two decades representing the Fort Worth–based district. Before his election to Congress, Goldman served in the Texas House of Representatives for over a decade, representing the 97th district from 2013 to 2025. During his tenure in the state legislature, he rose to the position of Majority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives, a role he held from January 2023 to April 2024. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Goldman attended the University of Texas at Austin before building a career in business and public service in his hometown. His congressional work has focused on energy policy, defense, and issues affecting the Fort Worth metropolitan area, and he serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Early Life

Craig Alan Goldman was born on October 3, 1968, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in the Fort Worth area, a city that would remain central to his personal and professional life. Details about his parents and family background during his upbringing are not extensively documented in public records.

Goldman's early years in Fort Worth connected him to a community with deep ties to the defense, aerospace, and energy industries — sectors that would later become focal points of his legislative career. Fort Worth has long served as home to major military installations and defense contractors, and Goldman's familiarity with the region's economic landscape informed his later policy priorities.

Education

Goldman attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his time at the university, Goldman became a member of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), a national fraternity. He is listed among the organization's notable alumni.

Career

Texas House of Representatives (2013–2025)

Goldman began his career in elected office in 2012, when he won election to the Texas House of Representatives representing the 97th district, which encompasses parts of the Fort Worth area in Tarrant County. He succeeded Mark M. Shelton and took office on January 8, 2013.

Goldman served in the Texas House for six consecutive terms, spanning more than a decade. During this period, he built a legislative record focused on business-friendly policies, energy regulation, and issues important to the Fort Worth metropolitan area. His voting record and legislative positions are documented through congressional tracking organizations.

Majority Leader of the Texas House

Goldman's most prominent role in the Texas legislature came when he was selected as the Majority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives, a leadership position he assumed on January 10, 2023. He succeeded Jim Murphy in the role. As Majority Leader, Goldman served as a key member of the Republican leadership team in the Texas House, helping to coordinate the party's legislative agenda and manage floor proceedings. He held the position until April 3, 2024, when he was succeeded by Tom Oliverson. Goldman's departure from the Majority Leader role coincided with his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

2024 Congressional Campaign

Goldman entered the race for Texas's 12th congressional district following the announcement by longtime incumbent Kay Granger that she would not seek reelection. Granger had represented the district since 1997, making her retirement a significant political event in the Fort Worth area. The 12th congressional district is centered on Fort Worth and includes portions of Tarrant County and surrounding areas, and it has been a reliably Republican-leaning seat.

Goldman won the 2024 general election, securing the seat to succeed Granger. His victory was consistent with the district's Republican-leaning voting patterns.

U.S. House of Representatives (2025–present)

Goldman was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 12th congressional district on January 3, 2025. As a freshman member of the 119th Congress, he was assigned to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the most influential committees in the House with jurisdiction over energy, telecommunications, health care, and commerce policy.

In July 2025, the Committee on Energy and Commerce enacted changes to its subcommittee leadership and memberships, as led by Chairman Brett Guthrie. Goldman was included in these organizational changes as part of the committee's restructuring of subcommittee assignments.

Energy Policy

Energy policy has been a central focus of Goldman's congressional tenure, consistent with the significance of the oil and gas industry to his district and the broader Texas economy. In late 2025 and early 2026, Goldman introduced legislation aimed at energy deregulation.

In February 2026, Goldman introduced H.R. 7592, titled the "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy Act of 2026." The bill proposed a framework for regulatory review in the energy sector.

Days earlier, Goldman had introduced a related energy deregulation bill that his office described as an effort to codify provisions aligned with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump regarding energy regulations.

Defense and Aerospace

Goldman's district includes significant defense and aerospace facilities, and he has engaged with these industries as part of his congressional duties. In October 2025, Goldman visited defense facilities in his district, including participating in an F-35 Lightning II flight simulator at a site described as "the Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas." The visit highlighted the importance of the F-35 Lightning II program and the broader defense sector to the Fort Worth–area economy. Lockheed Martin's F-35 production facility is located in Fort Worth, making defense spending and military procurement issues of particular relevance to Goldman's constituents.

Foreign Policy and Israel

In October 2025, Goldman participated in a podcast episode for the Republican Study Committee alongside Congressman Randy Fine of Florida, commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The episode called for the return of hostages still held by Hamas. Goldman's participation reflected his engagement with foreign policy issues related to U.S.–Israel relations and Middle East security.

Constituent Engagement

As a freshman congressman, Goldman has engaged with constituents through various forums. In September 2025, he participated in a breakfast event organized by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he solicited input from attendees. The event also drew protesters outside the venue who called on Goldman to hold a public town hall meeting, reflecting tension between the congressman's preferred engagement formats and constituent demands for open public forums.

In October 2025, Goldman appeared on the WFAA program Y'all-itics, a politically themed podcast, for a casual interview at Panther City Barbecue in Fort Worth. The appearance represented part of his media engagement strategy as a first-term member of Congress.

Personal Life

Goldman is married to Auryn Bachman. The couple resides in the Fort Worth area. Goldman has maintained deep ties to Fort Worth throughout his life, having been born, raised, and built his career in the city.

Goldman is a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, having joined during his undergraduate years at the University of Texas at Austin. The fraternity lists him among its notable members.

Recognition

Goldman's selection as Majority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives in January 2023 represented one of the most significant leadership recognitions of his political career. The Majority Leader position is one of the top leadership roles in the Texas House and is typically reserved for members who have demonstrated legislative skill and the ability to build coalitions within their party caucus.

His assignment to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce upon entering Congress in 2025 was notable for a freshman representative, as the committee is considered one of the most powerful and sought-after committee assignments in the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee's broad jurisdiction over energy, health, and commerce policy gives its members significant influence over legislation affecting major sectors of the American economy.

Goldman's inclusion on the Zeta Beta Tau list of notable alumni reflects his recognition within the fraternity's national network.