Hearcel F. Craig

Hearcel F. Craig is a Democratic state senator representing Ohio's 15th Senate District, which includes Columbus. He currently serves as Assistant Minority Leader in the Ohio Senate and holds the position of Sergeant-at-Arms for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

Craig has built a career spanning over 30 years in public service across state and local government. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served from 1970 to 1972. His professional experience includes roles as a Columbus City Councilmember , Executive Director of the Hilltop Civic Council, Legislative Affairs Officer at the Ohio Department of Youth Services , and Corporate Manager at J.C. Penney Insurance Company. He is also certified as an NASD Arbitrator.

Education

Craig holds advanced degrees from multiple institutions:

• Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University
• Master of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary
• Joint Together National Leadership Fellow from Boston University School of Public Health

He has also completed Leadership Columbus, Leadership Ohio, the Ohio Executive Institute, and the Council of State Governments' 2023 Henry Toll Fellowship.

Political Experience

Craig was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2014, representing the 26th House District. He transitioned to the Ohio Senate in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 for his second term.

In the Ohio Senate, Craig serves as Ranking Member on the Senate Insurance and Veterans and Public Safety Committees and sits on the Senate Finance, Medicaid, and Rules and Reference Committees. His legislative priorities include reforming the criminal justice system, protecting voting rights, commonsense gun reform, and ensuring access to quality healthcare, safe and affordable housing, education, and economic opportunities.

Notable Achievements

• House Bill 812: While at ODYS, Craig was instrumental in securing $83 million in capital improvements for state facilities.
• Juneteenth Holiday: In 2021, Craig's legislation made Juneteenth a paid state holiday in Ohio.
• Senate Bill 31: Craig helped pass legislation designating Poindexter Village as a historic state site.
• Senate Bill 252: This Craig-sponsored bill prohibits "fail first" coverage limits for stage four advanced metastatic cancer and related conditions.
• Veterans Affairs Leadership: As a Columbus City Councilmember, Craig led the city's Veterans Affairs Committee and created initiatives such as the Better Municipal Care for Veterans Home Fund.

Craig is married to Linda and has four children.