Garret Graves | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2015 | |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Climate Crisis Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Cassidy |
| Succeeded by | Cleo Fields |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Garret Neal Graves (1972-01-31)January 31, 1972 (age 54) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Carissa Vanderleest |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Alabama Louisiana Tech University American University |
| Website | House website |
Garret Neal Graves (born January 31, 1972) is an American politician who served as theUnited States representative forLouisiana's 6th congressional district from 2015 to 2025. He is a member of theRepublican Party. After redistricting dismantled his district, he declined to run for re-election in 2024.[1]
Garret Graves was born on January 31, 1972, inBaton Rouge, Louisiana, to John and Cynthia (née Sliman) Graves.[2] He is of partial Lebanese descent.[3][4] Graves graduated from Baton Rouge'sCatholic High School in 1990. He then attended theUniversity of Alabama,Louisiana Tech, andAmerican University.[5]
Graves served as an aide for nine years to former U.S. RepresentativeBilly Tauzin ofLouisiana's 3rd congressional district. He was also a legislative aide to theU.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which Tauzin chaired.[6] In 2005, he became an aide for theUnited States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, working under RepublicanU.S. SenatorDavid Vitter. He was the staff director for theUnited States Senate's Subcommittee on Climate Change and Impacts. He also worked for Democratic former U.S. senatorJohn Breaux, a protégé ofEdwin Edwards and Vitter's predecessor in the Senate.[7] He served as a chief legislative aide to theU.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.[8]
In 2008, GovernorBobby Jindal appointed Graves to chair theLouisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.[9] As chair, he negotiated on behalf of the state withBP over theDeepwater Horizon oil spill until resigning on February 17, 2014.[8]
In March 2014, Graves announced his intention to run in the2014 election to theUnited States House of Representatives forLouisiana's 6th congressional district;incumbent RepublicanBill Cassidy successfully challenged incumbent Democratic U.S. senatorMary Landrieu.[10]
In the 2014nonpartisan blanket primary, Edwin Edwards finished in first place with 30% of the vote; Graves was the runner-up with 27%. Graves and Edwards advanced to the December 6 runoff election.[7] In the runoff, Graves received 139,209 votes (62.4%) to Edwards's 83,781 (37.6%).[11]
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%). Democrat Justin Dewitt trailed with 55,078 votes (21%). Two other candidates, Democrat "Andie" Saizan andIndependent David Lance Graham, received the remaining 3%.[12]
In November 2023, theFifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled inRobinson v. Ardoin that Louisiana mustredistrict its electoral maps due togerrymandering, which has unfairly diluted the representation of the state'sAfrican American population. InRobinson v. Callais, which has been appealed to theUS Supreme Court,civil rights groups have alleged that theLouisiana State Legislature's proposed maps were stillgerrymandered with electoral districts redrawn to unseat Graves, who is a political rival of incumbentLouisiana GovernorJeff Landry.[13]
In April 2017, Graves became engaged in a public dispute with Louisiana governorJohn Bel Edwards about the disbursement of federal assistance for Louisiana's2016 flooding victims. Graves, who had been mentioned as a potential challenger to Edwards in the 2019 gubernatorial election, said that he was "focused on flood recovery ... none of the governor's talk is helping flood victims."[14] 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's executive counsel, Matthew Block, explained that the state had no money in 2016 to pay the contractor. Edwards projected a $440 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2017.[15]
On January 6, 2021, Gravesvoted to object to the results of the2020 election in Pennsylvania.
In January 2023 following the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, Graves was a key ally ofKevin McCarthy in helping him be electedspeaker of the House. McCarthy then gave him a leadership post: coordinating strategy among the five factions or "Five Families" within the Republican caucus.[16] However, onceMcCarthy was ousted, Graves lost a lot of power and influence, culminating in retirement when it became clear the new district would be demographically unfavorable and he could not run in adjacent districts.[17]
Graves was tapped to lead the Republican side in negotiations over the2023 United States debt-ceiling crisis. Counselor to the presidentSteve Ricchetti, Office of Management and Budget DirectorShalanda Young, and legislative affairs directorLouisa Terrell were tapped to lead the Democratic side.[18]
As a "parting gift" to the 118th Congress, Graves united with also-retiringAbigail Spanberger to complete adischarge petition to force through a Social Security bill, a move that antagonized the Conference leadership.[19]
Graves served on the following committees:[20]
Graves voted to support Israel following the2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[28][29]
Graves resides in his native Baton Rouge.[30][31] His wife is Carissa Vanderleest.[32] He isCatholic.
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| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 6th congressional district 2015–2025 | Succeeded by |
| New office | Ranking Member of theHouse Climate Crisis Committee 2019–2023 | Position abolished |
| Party political offices | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Greg Walden2013 as Chair of House Republican Leadership | Chair of the House Republican Elected Leadership Committee 2023 | Vacant Title next held by Elise Stefanik2025 as Chair of House Republican Leadership |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
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| 5th district | ||
| 6th district | ||
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| 8th district | ||
| At-large | ||
| Territory | ||
| People | |
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| Other | |
