Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (born November 7, 1963) is an American politician serving as the United States representative for Missouri's 6th congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches across most of the northern third of the state, from the Kansas border to the Illinois border. The bulk of its population lives in the northern part of the Kansas City area, including the northern fourth of Kansas City. Graves is the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation.

Early life, education, and career

Graves is a lifelong resident of Tarkio, a small city in Missouri's northwestern corner, not far from the Iowa and Nebraska borders.[1] He is the son of Janice A. (née Hord) and Samuel Bruce Graves. He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture with a degree in agronomy.[1] He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.[2]

Personal life

Graves is a general aviation pilot. He owns a Piper PA-11 Cub Special, is restoring a Beech AT-10, and co-owns a North American T-6 Texan and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. Gould Peterson Municipal Airport is named after his uncle, an aviator, and is on his family's farm.[3][4][5] Graves is a Baptist.[6]

Missouri legislature

Graves was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1992.[7] After one term, he was elected to the Missouri Senate in 1994 and reelected in 1998.[1]

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Financial bailouts

After the September 2008 economic crisis, Graves voted against the proposed bailout of United States financial system, claiming it "neither 'punished the wrongdoers nor adequately protected the innocent taxpayers, investors and retirees' caught in the Wall Street banking crisis."[9] In January 2014, Graves introduced the TRICARE Family Improvement Act. The bill would allow dependents of military members to stay on their parents' TRICARE health plan after turning age 26. The bill would change current law, which requires those dependents to change to a separate health plan after turning 26.[10] The American Conservative Union gave him an 85% evaluation in 2017. As of 2019, Graves has a 4% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.[11]

Israel

Graves voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[12][13]

Todd Graves controversy

Graves is the brother of Todd Graves, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.[14] In October 2008, U.S. Senator Kit Bond apologized to Todd Graves after a U.S. Justice Department report cited Bond forcing Graves out over a disagreement with Representative Graves.[14] Following the report, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a special prosecutor to investigate whether former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials involved in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys broke the law (dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy).[15]

Ethics investigation

In 2009, the House Ethics Committee began an inquiry into whether Graves used his position on the Small Business Committee to invite Brooks Hurst, a longtime friend and a business partner of his wife, to testify at a committee hearing on the federal regulation of biodiesel and ethanol production. Graves had failed to mention the financial link between his wife and Hurst at the hearing, which dealt with federal subsidies for renewable fuels. A review by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics found "substantial reason to believe that an appearance of conflict of interest was created."[16] Graves said in a statement, "I look forward to a quick review of the facts and answering any questions that the committee may have. I believe that a speedy review will show that all the rules of the House concerning testimony in front of the Small Business Committee were followed."[17] The Office of Congressional Ethics referred the case to the House Ethics committee, which ended its own investigation in October, and released a report finding no ethical violations, as it asserted there was no standard in place for appearances like Hurst's.[18][19]

Political campaigns

Before his congressional career, Graves served eight years in the Missouri General Assembly, winning election to the Missouri House of Representatives once, and to the Missouri Senate twice.

Graves on the left with President George W. Bush at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri on March 20, 2007
Graves greeting President Barack Obama in the Blue Room of the White House on May 2, 2011
Graves with President Donald Trump at the signing of the FAA bill on October 5, 2018
Graves and a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meet with President Joe Biden on March 4, 2021

In 2000, Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Danner suddenly retired due to breast cancer. Graves filed within the short period of time left for filing. He faced Danner's son, Steve Danner, a former state senator, in the general election. Graves called Danner as a "tax and spend liberal" and won the race with 51% of the vote,[20] largely by running up huge margins in the district's rural areas. He was arguably helped by George W. Bush carrying the district in the 2000 presidential election, a theory known as the coattail effect.[citation needed]

1992

1992 Election for Missouri House of Representatives 4th District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 7,837 56.48%
DemocraticEverett W. Brown6,03843.52%
Total votes13,875 100%

1994

1994 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 35,221 60.61%
DemocraticDoug R. Hughes22,88839.31%
Total votes58,109 100%

1998

1998 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 31,883 62.69%
DemocraticBeth M. Wheeler18,97437.31%
Total votes50,857 100%

2000

2000 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 30,014 68.05
RepublicanTeresa Anne Loar7,49316.99
RepublicanJeff Bailey4,57510.37
RepublicanJohn Dady1,1222.54
RepublicanJack C. DeSalms9012.04
Total votes44,105 100
General election
RepublicanSam Graves 138,925 50.85
DemocraticSteve Danner127,79246.78
LibertarianJimmy Dykes3,6961.35
Natural LawMarie Richey2,7881.02
Total votes273,201 100

2002

2002 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 131,151 63.03
DemocraticCathy Rinehart73,20235.18
LibertarianErik Buck3,7351.79
Total votes208,088 100

2004

Graves during the
108th Congress
2004 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 196,516 63.83
DemocraticCharles S. Broomfield106,98734.75
LibertarianErik Buck4,3521.41
Total votes307,855 100

2006

2006 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 150,882 61.64
DemocraticSara Jo Shettles87,47735.73
LibertarianErik Buck4,7571.94
Progressive PartyShirley A. Yurkonis1,6790.69
Total votes244,795 100

2008

Graves faced a tougher reelection race in 2008 against the Democratic nominee, former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. He gained national attention early in the race for running an ad accusing Barnes of promoting "San Francisco values." It was initially considered one of the most competitive races in the country,[citation needed] but Graves was reelected handily, with 59% of the vote to Barnes's 37%.

2008 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 196,526 59.43
DemocraticKay Barnes121,89436.86
LibertarianDave Browning12,2793.71
Total votes330,699 100

2010

2010 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 54,566 82.46%
RepublicanChristopher Ryan11,60817.53%
Total votes66,174 100
General election
RepublicanSam Graves 154,103 69.44
DemocraticClint Hylton67,76230.54
Write-InKyle Yarber470.02
Total votes221,912 100

2012

2012 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 59,388 80.33%
RepublicanChristopher Ryan9,94513.45%
RepublicanBob Gough4,5986.22%
Total votes73,931 100
General election
RepublicanSam Graves 216,906 65.00
DemocraticKyle Yarber108,50332.52
LibertarianRuss Monchil8,2792.48
Total votes333,688 100

2014

2014 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 124,616 66.65
DemocraticBill Hedge55,15729.50
LibertarianRuss Monchil7,1973.85

2016

2016 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 238,388 68.0
DemocraticDavid Blackwell98,58828.4
LibertarianRuss Monchil8,1232.3
GreenMike Diel4,2411.2

2018

2018 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 199,796 65.4
DemocraticHenry Martin97,66032.0
LibertarianDan Hogan7,9532.6

2020

2020 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 258,709 67.1
DemocraticGena Ross118,92630.8
LibertarianJim Higgins8,1442.1

2022

2022 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSam Graves 184,865 70.3
DemocraticHenry Martin72,25327.5
LibertarianEdward A (Andy) Maidment5,7742.2

References

  1. ^ a b c "Meet Sam". Congressman Sam Graves. December 3, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  2. ^ "Greek Political Leaders | North-American Interfraternity Conference". nicindy.org. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "AOPA Q&A with US Rep. Sam Graves". aopa.org. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Matthew Murray (November 6, 2007). "Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip Near Graves' Land - Roll Call". Roll Call. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Shiner, Linda (March 2014). "Aviation's Man in Washington". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - MO State House 004 Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
  9. ^ "Graves, Boyda vote against $700B bailout in the U.S. House". The News-Press. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  10. ^ "Graves proposes changes to military family health coverage" Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Ripon Advance. 1/31/14. Retrieved 2/7/14.
  11. ^ "Check out Representative Sam Graves's Environmental Voting Record". February 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b "Kit Bond apologizes for staff's role in firing of federal prosecutor". The News Leader. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.[dead link]
  15. ^ "Prosecutor will investigate firings of nine U.S. Attorneys". The Miami Herald. September 29, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007.[dead link]
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ Margasak, Larry (September 16, 2009). "Ethics panel defers probe on Jesse Jackson Jr". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2009.[dead link]
  18. ^ Larry Margasak [2] Congressional ethics report leaked, reveals names LARRY MARGASAK, October 30, 2009 Associated Press
  19. ^ "Campaign Legal Center blog: Fault Ethics Committee, Not OCE". Clcblog.org. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  20. ^ "Missouri Secretary of State". Sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.

External links

Missouri House of Representatives
Preceded by
Phil Tate
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 4th district

1993–1995
Succeeded by
Missouri Senate
Preceded by Member of the Missouri Senate
from the 12th district

1995–2001
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 6th congressional district

2001–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee
2009–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Small Business Committee
2011–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee
2019–2023
Succeeded by
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
2023–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
39th
Succeeded by