Ellen Craswell (May 25, 1932 – April 5, 2008)[1][2] was an American politician who was a candidate in the 1996 Washington gubernatorial election.

She resided in Poulsbo, Washington with her husband and fellow politician, Bruce Craswell.

She narrowly won re-election after a recount in 1988 and was defeated by Democrat Betti Sheldon in 1992.

[1] In 1987 she was appointed as the first female president pro tempore of the Senate, a position she held until the end of her career.

Craswell was very open about her religious identity, prompting concern among some in the Republican Party that she would have difficulty in moderately liberal Washington.

Craswell lived with her family in the Poulsbo, Washington area, until her death on April 5, 2008.