Sam Graves
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's Template:Ushr district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office January 3, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Pat Danner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 12th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office Template:En dash range | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Glen Klippenstein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | David Klindt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 4th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office Template:En dash range | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Phil Tate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Rex Barnett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. Script error: No such module "person date". Tarkio, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | Script error: No such module "person date". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Republican | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SpouseScript error: No such module "Detect singular". | Page Template:Marriage/styles.css has no content.
Lesley Hickok
(m. 1986–2012) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Todd Graves (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Missouri (BS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | House website Campaign website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (born November 7, 1963) is an American politician who is currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for Template:Ushr, with him being the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation upon the retirement of Senator Roy Blunt in 2023, and having held office since 2001. The aforementioned district stretches across most of the northern third of the state, with it including territory from the Kansas border to the Illinois border. The bulk of its population lives in the northern part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Graves is a member of the Republican Party. He has notably served as the Chair in charge of the influential Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House for multiple years, with him being able to exceed the system of American term limits normally enforced by the Republican leadership.[1]
The Center for Effective Lawmaking, at Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia, ranked him as the most effective House Republican in the 118th Congress (2023–25).[2]
On March 27, 2026, Graves announced he would not seek re-election in 2026.[3]
Early life
Graves was born on November 7, 1963, in Tarkio, Missouri.[4] He is the son of Janice A. (née Hord) and Samuel Bruce Graves, and the brother of attorney Todd Graves.[5] He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture with a degree in agronomy.[4] He is a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.[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.[4]
U.S. House of Representatives
Political positions
Environmental policy
In 2025 and 2026, Graves proposed an annual tax on electric and hybrid vehicles.[8]
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]
Boeing 737 MAX crashes
Graves blamed on May 13, 2019, at the House Aviation subcommittee hearing, the 737 MAX crashes (Lion Air Flight 610) on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302) on poor training of the Indonesian and Ethiopian pilots. He stated also that "pilots trained in the U.S. would have been successful" in handling the emergencies on both jets.[12][13] One month earlier the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued the Boeing 737 MAX groundings.
Israel-Palestine
Graves voted to support Israel following the October 7 attacks.[14][15]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (chair)
- As Chair of the committee, Rep. Graves is entitled to sit as an ex officio member in any subcommittee meeting per the committee's rules.
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Cement Caucus
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption[16]
- Congressional Taiwan Caucus[17]
- United States–China Working Group[18]
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."[19] 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."[20] 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.[21][22]
Retirement
On March 27, 2026 Graves said he would retire in January 2027.[23]
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.
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.[24]
1992
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 7,837 | 56.48% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Everett W. Brown | 6,038 | 43.52% | |
| Total votes | 13,875 | 100% | ||
1994
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 35,221 | 60.61% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Doug R. Hughes | 22,888 | 39.31% | |
| Total votes | 58,109 | 100% | ||
1998
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 31,883 | 62.69% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Beth M. Wheeler | 18,974 | 37.31% | |
| Total votes | 50,857 | 100% | ||
2000
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 30,014 | 68.05 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Teresa Anne Loar | 7,493 | 16.99 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Jeff Bailey | 4,575 | 10.37 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | John Dady | 1,122 | 2.54 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Jack C. DeSalms | 901 | 2.04 | |
| Total votes | 44,105 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 138,925 | 50.85 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Steve Danner | 127,792 | 46.78 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Jimmy Dykes | 3,696 | 1.35 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Marie Richey | 2,788 | 1.02 | |
| Total votes | 273,201 | 100 | ||
2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 131,151 | 63.03 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Cathy Rinehart | 73,202 | 35.18 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Erik Buck | 3,735 | 1.79 | |
| Total votes | 208,088 | 100 | ||
2004
108th Congress
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 196,516 | 63.83 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Charles S. Broomfield | 106,987 | 34.75 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Erik Buck | 4,352 | 1.41 | |
| Total votes | 307,855 | 100 | ||
2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 150,882 | 61.64 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sara Jo Shettles | 87,477 | 35.73 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Erik Buck | 4,757 | 1.94 | |
| Progressive Party | Shirley A. Yurkonis | 1,679 | 0.69 | |
| Total votes | 244,795 | 100 | ||
2008
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In 2008, Graves' Democratic challenger was former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. She was the first reasonably well-financed Democrat to run in the district since Graves' initial run. Graves gained national attention early in the race for running an ad accusing Barnes of promoting "San Francisco values". Despite Barnes' roots in the district (she grew up in St. Joseph and lived in the district's share of Kansas City), Graves was reelected handily, with 59% of the vote to Barnes's 37%.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 196,526 | 59.43 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Kay Barnes | 121,894 | 36.86 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Dave Browning | 12,279 | 3.71 | |
| Total votes | 330,699 | 100 | ||
2010
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| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 54,566 | 82.46% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Christopher Ryan | 11,608 | 17.53% | |
| Total votes | 66,174 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 154,103 | 69.44 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Clint Hylton | 67,762 | 30.54 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Kyle Yarber | 47 | 0.02 | |
| Total votes | 221,912 | 100 | ||
2012
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 59,388 | 80.33% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Christopher Ryan | 9,945 | 13.45% | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bob Gough | 4,598 | 6.22% | |
| Total votes | 73,931 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 216,906 | 65.00 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Kyle Yarber | 108,503 | 32.52 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Russ Monchil | 8,279 | 2.48 | |
| Total votes | 333,688 | 100 | ||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 124,616 | 66.65 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill Hedge | 55,157 | 29.50 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Russ Monchil | 7,197 | 3.85 | |
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 238,388 | 68.0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | David Blackwell | 98,588 | 28.4 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Russ Monchil | 8,123 | 2.3 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Mike Diel | 4,241 | 1.2 | |
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 199,796 | 65.4 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Henry Martin | 97,660 | 32.0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Dan Hogan | 7,953 | 2.6 | |
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 258,709 | 67.1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Gena Ross | 118,926 | 30.8 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Jim Higgins | 8,144 | 2.1 | |
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves | 184,865 | 70.3 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Henry Martin | 72,253 | 27.5 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Edward A (Andy) Maidment | 5,774 | 2.2 | |
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Sam Graves (incumbent) | 265,210 | 70.7 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Pam May | 100,999 | 26.9 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Andy Maidment | 5,919 | 1.6 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Mike Diel | 3,058 | 0.8 | |
| Total votes | 375,186 | 100.0 | ||
| Script error: No such module "Political party". hold | ||||
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.[25][26][27] Graves is a Baptist.[28]
References
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- ^ https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/sam-graves-transportation-committee-waiver
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Volden, Craig (March 24, 2025). "Highlights from the New 118th Congress Legislative Effectiveness Scores" (PDF). Center for Effective Lawmaking. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Powerful Missouri Republican Sam Graves to retire, sparking race for Northland seat". The Kansas City Star. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Meet Sam". Congressman Sam Graves. December 3, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Kit Bond apologizes for staff's role in firing of federal prosecutor". The News Leader. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2007. [dead link]
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greek Political Leaders | North-American Interfraternity Conference". nicindy.org. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Campaigns - MO State House 004 Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gitlin, Jonathan M. (March 23, 2026). "Republicans in Congress add $250 annual federal EV tax to transport bill". Ars Technica. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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.
- ^ "Graves proposes changes to military family health coverage" Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Ripon Advance. 1/31/14. Retrieved 2/7/14.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Check out Representative Sam Graves's Environmental Voting Record". February 17, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How much was pilot error a factor in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes?". The Seattle Times. May 15, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Blaming Dead Pilots Brought to You by Boeing". Corporate Crime Reporter. May 22, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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) - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Congressional Taiwan Caucus". Congressman Brad Sherman. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Mission". U.S.-China Working Group. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Margasak, Larry (September 16, 2009). "Ethics panel defers probe on Jesse Jackson Jr". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Larry Margasak [2] Congressional ethics report leaked, reveals names LARRY MARGASAK, October 30, 2009 Associated Press
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jimison, Robert (March 27, 2026). "Another Senior House Republican Will Retire as Midterm Exodus Grows". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Missouri Secretary of State". Sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."AOPA Q&A with US Rep. Sam Graves". aopa.org. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Matthew Murray (November 6, 2007). "Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip Near Graves' Land - Roll Call". Roll Call. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Shiner, Linda (March 2014). "Aviation's Man in Washington". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
External links
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- Congressman Sam Graves official U.S. House website
- Sam Graves for Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
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