Garret Graves

Garret Neal Graves (born January 31, 1972) 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.

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. 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. He served as a chief legislative aide to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

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. He resigned the position effective February 17, 2014.

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. 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. In a runoff election on December 6, 2014, received 139,209 votes (62.4 percent) to Edwards's 83,781 (37.6 percent).

Committee assignments

• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on Federal Lands
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

• "Former Jindal adviser running for Congress". theadvocate.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014. 
• "Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2014. 

Graves is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he still resides there. 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. He is a Roman Catholic.