He succeeded Representative Paul Clymer who retired; in 2014 Craig Staats defeated Karen Chellew in the general election.
In 2016, Craig Staats was re-elected, defeating challenger Vera Cole.
[3] Staats is the Marketing Chair of the Liquor Control Committee, [1] working to modernize hotel license laws.
[2] Staats has been a vocal critic of Governor Tom Wolf, and a supporter of reopening businesses[4] amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania.
Staats currently sits on the Education, Finance, Liquor Control, and State Government committees.