George Washington Woodward was born in 1809 in Bethany, Pennsylvania, and attended Geneva College and Wilkes-Barre Academy. He was admitted to the bar in 1830 and subsequently held various judicial positions, including president judge of the fourth judicial district from 1841 to 1851. Woodward was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1837 and later served as an associate judge and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1867. He was a member of the Democratic Party and held congressional positions in the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses. Woodward's nomination as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1845 failed due to his nativist views.

George Washington Woodward's political career reveals a figure who consistently navigated complex ideological landscapes, most notably when his nomination to the Supreme Court faltered due to his nativist views. His unsuccessful bid for governor in 1863 further highlights a tendency to challenge mainstream expectations. Despite lacking explicit policy positions in the provided data, Woodward's strategic choices suggest an approach that balances regional interests with broader national considerations.