Garret Graves

Garret Graves
Garret Graves
Ranking Member of the House Climate Crisis Committee
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Position established
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Louisiana's 6th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Bill Cassidy
Personal details
Born	Garret Neal Graves; January 31, 1972 (age 49); Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Carissa Vanderleest
Children	3
Website	House website

Garret Neal Graves (born January 31, 1972) is an American politician serving as the United States Representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district. In a runoff election on December 6, 2014, Graves, a Republican, defeated the Democratic candidate, Edwin Edwards.

Early life[]

Garret Graves was born on January 31, 1972^[1] to John and Cynthia (née Sliman) Graves, who was of Lebanese descent; his father owns an engineering firm.^[2] He is a Roman Catholic.^[3] Graves attended the University of Alabama, Louisiana Tech, and American University, but did not earn a degree.^[4]

Career[]

Graves served as an aide for nine years to former U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. He was also a legislative aide to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which Tauzin served as chairman.^[2] In 2005, he became an aide for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, serving Republican U.S. Senator David Vitter. He was the staff director for the United States Senate's Subcommittee on Climate Change and Impacts. He also worked for Democratic former U.S. Senator John Breaux, a protege of Edwin Edwards and Vitter's predecessor in the Senate.^[5] He served as a chief legislative aide to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.^[6]

In 2008, Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Graves to manage the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. In the position, he negotiated on behalf of the state with British Petroleum over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.^[5] He resigned the position, effective February 17, 2014.^[6]

U.S House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

In March 2014, Graves announced his intention to run in the 2014 election to the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 6th congressional district; incumbent Republican Bill Cassidy successfully challenged incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu.^[7]

In the 2014 nonpartisan blanket primary, Edwin Edwards finished in first place with 30 percent of the vote; Graves was the runner-up with 27 percent. Graves and Edwards advanced to the December 6 runoff election.^[5] In a runoff election on December 6, 2014, Graves received 139,209 votes (62.4 percent) to Edwards's 83,781 (37.6 percent).^[8]

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held in conjunction with the national elections on November 6, 2018, Graves handily won his third term in the U.S. House, having led a four-candidate field with 186,524 votes (69 percent). Democrat Justin Dewitt trailed with 55,078 votes (21 percent). Two other candidate, Democrat "Andie" Saizan and Independent David Lance Graham, held the remaining 3 percent of the ballots cast.^[9]

Tenure[]

In April 2017, Representative Graves became engaged in a public dispute with Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards regarding the disbursement of federal assistance for Louisiana's 2016 flooding victims. Graves, who has been mentioned as a potential challenger to Edwards in the 2019 gubernatorial election, claims that he is "focused on flood recovery ... none of the governor's talk is helping flood victims."^[10]

Edwards attributed the delay in disbursement of the funds, which began on April 10, to the state's financial shortfall which prevented the quick retaining of a disaster management firm. Edwards' executive counsel, Matthew Block, explained that the state had no money in 2016 to pay the contractor. Edwards currently projects a $440 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2017.^[11]

Committee assignments[]

Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Caucus memberships[]

Republican Study Committee^[12]
Congressional Western Caucus^[13]
United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus^[14]

Personal life[]

Graves resides in his native Baton Rouge.^[15]^[6] His wife is Carissa Vanderleest.^[16]

References[]

^ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Questions remain about potential conflict". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ "Members of Congress: Religious Affiliations". Pew Research Center. January 16, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
^ "Garret Graves - Ballotpedia".
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Edwin Edwards, Garret Graves headed for runoff in 6th Congressional District". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Jindal coastal adviser Garret Graves resigns, effective Feb. 17". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ "Former Jindal adviser running for Congress". theadvocate.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ "Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
^ "Election Returns". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
^ Greg Hilburn (April 21, 2017). "Who will challenge Gov. Edwards in 2019?". . Retrieved April 22, 2017.
^ Rebekah Allen (April 20, 2017). "U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, Gov. John Bel Edwards sniping about flood recovery, again". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
^ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
^ "New coastal director has strong local knowledge". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ Sixth district. Official Congressional Directory 114th Congress, 2015-2016. 15 April 2016. p. 120. ISBN 9780160929960.

External links[]

Congressman Garret Graves official U.S. House website
Campaign website
Garret Graves at Curlie
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Profile at Vote Smart
Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Bill Cassidy	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th congressional district 2019–present	Incumbent
New office	Ranking Member of the House Climate Crisis Committee 2019–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Ruben Gallego	United States representatives by seniority 218th	Succeeded by Glenn Grothman

[1] "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

[conflict-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Questions remain about potential conflict". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

[3] "Members of Congress: Religious Affiliations". Pew Research Center. January 16, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2016.

[4] "Garret Graves - Ballotpedia".

[nov4-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Edwin Edwards, Garret Graves headed for runoff in 6th Congressional District". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

[resign-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Jindal coastal adviser Garret Graves resigns, effective Feb. 17". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

[7] "Former Jindal adviser running for Congress". theadvocate.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

[8] "Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

[9] "Election Returns". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.

[10] Greg Hilburn (April 21, 2017). "Who will challenge Gov. Edwards in 2019?". . Retrieved April 22, 2017.

[11] Rebekah Allen (April 20, 2017). "U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, Gov. John Bel Edwards sniping about flood recovery, again". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved April 24, 2017.

[12] "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved December 21, 2017.

[13] "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 27 June 2018.

[14] "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.

[15] "New coastal director has strong local knowledge". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

[16] Sixth district. Official Congressional Directory 114th Congress, 2015-2016. 15 April 2016. p. 120. ISBN 9780160929960.

[17] Appointed by the Speaker, not the Minority Leader.

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show v t Louisiana's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	▌Bill Cassidy (R) ▌John N. Kennedy (R)
Representatives (ordered by district)	▌Steve Scalise (R) ▌Troy Carter (D) ▌Clay Higgins (R) ▌Mike Johnson (R) ▌Julia Letlow (R) ▌Garret Graves (R)

show v t Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana
1st district	E. Livingston White H. Johnson White Slidell La Sére St. Martin Dunbar Eustis Bouligny Sypher Lawrence Gibson Hunt St. Martin Wilkinson Meyer Estopinal O'Connor Fernández Hébert Tonry R. Livingston Vitter Jindal Scalise
2nd district	Gurley Thomas Ripley Chinn Dawson la Branche Thibodeaux Conrad Bullard J. A. Landry Hunt Taylor Mann Sheldon Ellis Hahn Wallace Lagan Coleman Lagan Davey Buck Davey Gilmore Dupré Spearing Maloney H. Boggs Maloney H. Boggs L. Boggs Jefferson Cao Richmond Carter
3rd district	Brent Overton Bullard Garland J. Moore Dawson Harmanson Penn Perkins Davidson Newsham Darrall Acklen Darrall Kellogg Gay Price Broussard Martin Montet Mouton Domengeaux Willis Caffery Treen Tauzin Melancon J. M. Landry Boustany Higgins
4th district	Bossier Morse J. Moore Jones Sandidge Landrum Vidal Newsham McCleery Boarman Smith Levy Elam Blanchard Ogden Breazeale Watkins Sandlin Brooks Waggonner Leach Roemer McCrery Fields McCrery Fleming M. Johnson
5th district	Blackburn Morey Spencer Leonard Young King Newton Boatner Baird Ransdell Elder Wilson Mills McKenzie Passman Huckaby McCrery Cooksey Alexander McAllister Abraham Letlow
6th district	Nash E. Robertson Lewis Irion E. Robertson S. Robertson Favrot Wickliffe Morgan Sanders Sr. Favrot Kemp Sanders Jr. Griffith Sanders Jr. Morrison Rarick H. Moore Baker Cazayoux Cassidy Graves
7th district	Pujo Lazaro De Rouen Plauché Larcade Thompson Edwards Breaux Hayes John Boustany
8th district	Aswell Overton Dear Allen G. S. "Doc" Long McSween G. W. Long S. Long G. W. Long C. Long Holloway
At-large	Robertson Butler Johnston Sheridan
Territory	Clark Poydras

show v t Louisiana's delegation(s) to the 114th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
114th	Senate: ▌D. Vitter (R) ▌B. Cassidy (R)	House: ▌C. Boustany (R) ▌S. Scalise (R) ▌J. Fleming (R) ▌C. Richmond (D) ▌R. Abraham (R) ▌G. Graves (R)
115th	Senate: ▌B. Cassidy (R) ▌J. N. Kennedy (R)	House: ▌S. Scalise (R) ▌C. Richmond (D) ▌R. Abraham (R) ▌G. Graves (R) ▌C. Higgins (R) ▌M. Johnson (R)
116th	Senate: ▌B. Cassidy (R) ▌J. N. Kennedy (R)	House: ▌S. Scalise (R) ▌C. Richmond (D) ▌R. Abraham (R) ▌G. Graves (R) ▌C. Higgins (R) ▌M. Johnson (R)
117th	Senate: ▌B. Cassidy (R) ▌J. N. Kennedy (R)	House: ▌S. Scalise (R) ▌C. Richmond (D) ▌G. Graves (R) ▌C. Higgins (R) ▌M. Johnson (R) ▌J. Letlow (R) ▌T. Carter (D)