Garret Graves

Garret Graves
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 6th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Bill Cassidy
Personal details
Born (1972-01-31) January 31, 1972
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Carissa Graves
Children 3
Alma mater Catholic High School, Baton Rouge
University of Alabama (1990-1991)
Louisiana Tech University (1993-1995)
American University (1996)[1]
Occupation State coastal authority chairman (2008-2014), congressional aide[1]
Religion Roman Catholic
Website http://garretgraves.house.gov

Garret Neal Graves (born January 31, 1972)[2] is 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, former Governor Edwin Edwards.

Early 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.[3] 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 Subcommittee on Climate Change and Impacts. He also worked for Democratic former U.S. Senator John Breaux, a protege of Edwin Edwards.[4] He served as a chief legislative aide to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.[5]

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.[4] He resigned the position effective February 17, 2014.[5]

Congress

Election

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 U.S. Senator Democrat Mary Landrieu.[6] In the 2014 jungle 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.[4] In a runoff election on December 6, 2014, received 139,209 votes (62.4 percent) to Edwards's 83,781 (37.6 percent).[7]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Graves is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana,[8] and he still resides there.[5] His father, John, owns an engineering firm that contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that Graves oversees on the House Natural Resource Committee.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "", National Journal, Washington, DC, 31 August 1998
  2. "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Questions remain about potential conflict". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Edwin Edwards, Garret Graves headed for runoff in 6th Congressional District". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Jindal coastal adviser Garret Graves resigns, effective Feb. 17". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. "Former Jindal adviser running for Congress". theadvocate.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  7. "Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  8. "New coastal director has strong local knowledge". HoumaToday.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bill Cassidy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 6th congressional district

2015present
Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Gwen Graham
D-Florida
United States Representatives by seniority
395th
Succeeded by
Glenn Grothman
R-Wisconsin
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