40 Facts About Tom Graves

Tom Graves chose not to run for re-election in 2020, and resigned from the House of Representatives on October 4,2020.

Tom Graves was born in St Petersburg, Florida on February 3,1970.

Tom Graves graduated from Cass High School in Cartersville, Georgia, where he played linebacker and offensive guard on the school football team.

Tom Graves earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.

Tom Graves received criticism in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the grounds that the outcome of this business venture appeared to some individuals to undermine his stated commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Tom E Shanahan retired as Representative to Georgia's 10th District in 2002, and Graves won as his successor with 60 percent of the vote.

Tom Graves later ran, unopposed, to serve as House Representative to Georgia's 12th district in 2004.

Tom Graves was re-elected, after two races in which he ran against primary challenger Bill Pickett in 2006 and unopposed in 2008.

Tom Graves served on the Transportation, Ways and Means committee and on the Health and Human services committee during his tenure in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Tom Graves served as Vice Chairman on the Motor Vehicles committee.

Tom Graves was named Legislator of the Year in 2009 by the American Legislative Exchange Council.

In May 2010, Tom Graves won a special election to replace incumbent Representative Nathan Deal, who resigned to focus on his ultimately successful campaign for Governor.

On June 8,2010, Tom Graves won the run-off for the special election against former state Senator Lee Hawkins.

Tom Graves then faced Hawkins two more times, in another primary election and run off before winning the November 2,2010 general election unopposed.

In January 2013, Tom Graves rejoined the Whip team, and was a member as of 2020.

Tom Graves opted to run for reelection in the newly created district.

The 14th was no less Republican than the 9th, and Tom Graves won the November 6,2012 election against Democratic challenger Daniel "Danny" Grant with 73 percent of the vote.

Tom Graves received 74 percent of the vote in the Republican primary against activist Kenneth Herron.

Tom Graves received 76 percent of the vote in the Republican primary against perennial candidate Allan Levene and activist Mickey Tuck.

Tom Graves endorsed Senator Marco Rubio in the 2016 Republican Presidential Primary.

On December 5,2019, Tom Graves announced that he would not run for re-election in 2020.

Tom Graves resigned from his seat early, on October 4,2020.

Tom Graves is anti-abortion and voted in 2011 to limit funding to Planned Parenthood.

Tom Graves stated that he opposes abortion "without exception", including when the mother's life is at stake.

Tom Graves did not receive an endorsement from the Georgia Right to Life PAC in the 2016 primary.

Tom Graves was endorsed by the Atlanta Tea Party in 2010.

Tom Graves authored the Defund Obamacare Act in 2010 and reintroduced the bill in the 112th and 113th Congress.

Tom Graves co-sponsored a balanced-budget amendment in both the 112th and 113th Congresses and supported the Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011, which aimed to reduce federal spending and establish caps in future spending.

Tom Graves voted against removing US troops from Afghanistan in March 2011.

Tom Graves introduced the Transportation Empowerment Act in 2011, meant to lower the federal gas tax to 3.7 cents per gallon and transfer nearly all funding authority to US states over a period of five years.

Tom Graves authored the Email Privacy Act with Representatives Kevin Yoder and Jared Polis.

Tom Graves led the national movement to defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2013.

Tom Graves was a member of the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Tom Graves's membership included the subcommittees on Defense and Financial Services and General Government.

Tom Graves was chairman of the new Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

Tom Graves was a member of the House Congressional Chicken Caucus, the House General Aviation Caucus, the Joint Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, the House Congressional Balanced Budget Amendment Caucus, the House Republican Study Committee and the House Congressional Diabetes Caucus.

In 2016, Tom Graves called President Barack Obama a "dictator" and said that Obama "exceeded his authority" regarding gun laws.

Tom Graves supports banning federal health coverage and any federal funds from funding abortions, including Affordable Care Act insurance coverage.

Tom Graves has a "B" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related legislation.

Tom Graves introduced the Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act "to provide a defense to prosecution for fraud and related activity in connection with computers for persons defending against unauthorized intrusions into their computers, and for other purposes".