Garret Graves

Garret Graves
Born	Garret Neal Graves 31 1, 1972
Birthplace	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, policy advocate
Known for	U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district (2015–2025); coastal restoration policy
Education	University of Alabama Louisiana Tech University American University
Spouse(s)	Carissa Vanderleest
Children	3

Garret Neal Graves (born January 31, 1972) is an American politician and policy advocate who served as the United States representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district from 2015 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Graves built a career centered on coastal restoration, energy policy, and infrastructure before entering Congress. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he rose to prominence as a senior adviser to Governor Bobby Jindal on coastal protection and restoration issues, leveraging that expertise into a successful congressional campaign in 2014. During his five terms in office, he served as the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and played a notable role in legislative negotiations, including the 2023 debt ceiling agreement. After redistricting significantly altered his district following the 2020 census, Graves declined to seek re-election in 2024. Since leaving Congress, he has remained active in policy discussions related to energy, artificial intelligence, and electoral reform.

Early Life

Garret Neal Graves was born on January 31, 1972, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He grew up in the Baton Rouge area, where coastal issues and the oil and gas industry were central to the regional economy and culture. Louisiana's ongoing challenges with coastal erosion, hurricane vulnerability, and wetlands loss would later become defining themes of his professional and political career.

Graves developed an early interest in environmental and coastal policy matters, which informed his educational and career choices. His upbringing in southern Louisiana exposed him to the intersection of energy production, environmental stewardship, and natural disaster preparedness that characterized much of the state's political landscape.

Education

Between 1990 and 1996, Graves attended three universities: the University of Alabama, Louisiana Tech University, and American University in Washington, D.C. His studies at American University, located in the nation's capital, positioned him for early entry into federal policy work. Details regarding the specific degrees he completed or his fields of study at each institution are not fully documented in available sources.

Career

Early Policy Work

Before entering elected office, Graves built a substantial career in coastal and environmental policy at both the state and federal levels. He worked on coastal restoration and protection issues in various capacities, gaining expertise in the complex interplay between Louisiana's energy industry, its fragile coastal ecosystems, and federal disaster response programs.

Graves served as a senior adviser to Governor Bobby Jindal, focusing on coastal protection and restoration policy. In this role, he was involved in the state's efforts to address the loss of Louisiana's coastal wetlands, a crisis that threatened communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems across the southern part of the state. His work included engagement with federal agencies and Congress on issues related to post-hurricane recovery and long-term coastal master planning.

He also worked in various capacities related to the response to major hurricanes and oil spills that affected Louisiana, gaining practical experience in disaster management and recovery policy. His background in these areas provided him with a policy portfolio that was directly relevant to the concerns of voters in southern Louisiana.

2014 Congressional Campaign

In 2014, Graves entered the race to represent Louisiana's 6th congressional district, which had been vacated when Representative Bill Cassidy ran successfully for the United States Senate. Graves ran on his extensive background in coastal restoration and energy policy, positioning himself as a candidate with deep subject-matter expertise on issues of central importance to the district.

The race attracted significant attention in Louisiana politics. In the November 2014 primary, Graves advanced to a runoff election held on December 6, 2014. He won the runoff decisively, defeating former Governor Edwin Edwards, who had attempted a political comeback at the age of 87. The victory over such a prominent, if controversial, political figure in Louisiana helped establish Graves as a formidable political presence in the state.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–2025)

Graves took office on January 3, 2015, succeeding Bill Cassidy as the representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He served five consecutive terms, representing the district until January 3, 2025.

Committee Assignments and Legislative Focus

During his tenure in Congress, Graves focused on issues related to energy, infrastructure, coastal restoration, and disaster response — areas consistent with his pre-congressional career. He served on multiple committees and was involved in legislative efforts addressing transportation infrastructure, flood insurance reform, and environmental policy.

From January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2023, Graves served as the ranking Republican member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. In this role, he represented the Republican perspective on climate and energy issues, often advocating for approaches that balanced environmental concerns with energy production and economic considerations. The committee was established in 2019 and was subsequently abolished in 2023 when Republicans gained the House majority.

Graves was a member of several congressional caucuses, including the Republican Study Committee and the Congressional Western Caucus. He also participated in the International Conservation Caucus.

2023 Debt Ceiling Negotiations

Graves gained national prominence as one of the key Republican negotiators during the 2023 federal debt ceiling crisis. Working alongside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, he was involved in direct negotiations with the Biden administration that ultimately produced the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which raised the debt ceiling while imposing certain spending constraints. His role in these high-stakes negotiations elevated his profile within the Republican caucus and in national media coverage of Congress.

Redistricting and Decision Not to Seek Re-election

Following the 2020 census, Louisiana's congressional districts were redrawn. The redistricting process significantly altered the 6th congressional district, effectively dismantling the district Graves had represented. The new map created a second majority-Black district in Louisiana, a change that resulted from litigation under the Voting Rights Act. The reconfigured district was substantially different from the one Graves had represented, and he announced that he would not seek re-election in 2024.

His seat was subsequently won by Cleo Fields, a Democrat, who succeeded Graves on January 3, 2025. The redistricting outcome and Graves's departure from Congress became part of a broader national discussion about the impact of redistricting on incumbent members of Congress and the composition of legislative bodies.

Post-Congressional Career

After leaving Congress in January 2025, Graves remained engaged in public policy. He became a fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, where he participated in discussions about governance, policy, and political reform.

AI Infrastructure Coalition

In November 2025, Graves was announced as co-chair of a newly launched AI Infrastructure Coalition, an industry group focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure policy. The coalition's formation reflected growing interest in AI policy among former government officials and industry stakeholders.

Advocacy on Electoral Reform

In October 2025, Graves participated in a public discussion on gerrymandering and primary reform alongside other former members of Congress, including former Senator Doug Jones (D-AL), former Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), and former Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC). The event, broadcast on C-SPAN, focused on the impact of redistricting practices and the potential for primary election reform to reduce political polarization.

Energy and Climate Policy Commentary

Graves continued to engage in public discourse on energy and climate policy following his departure from Congress. In July 2025, he appeared on Fox 5 DC to discuss energy independence, climate policy, and the future direction of U.S. policy in these areas.

Decision Not to Run for Louisiana's 5th District

In January 2026, when a potential vacancy emerged in Louisiana's 5th congressional district amid speculation that Representative Julia Letlow might leave the seat to run for the U.S. Senate, Graves publicly stated that he would not enter the race. His announcement came as several other candidates indicated interest in the seat. In explaining his decision, Graves indicated that he would not run "at this time," leaving open the possibility of future political activity.

Personal Life

Graves is married to Carissa Vanderleest, and the couple has three children. The family resides in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area. Graves has been identified as a member of the Roman Catholic faith in congressional religious affiliation surveys.

His political campaigns were documented through federal election filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Legacy

Graves's ten-year tenure in Congress was defined by his focus on issues related to coastal restoration, infrastructure, energy policy, and disaster preparedness — concerns rooted in his pre-congressional career and the needs of his Louisiana constituency. His role as the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis placed him at the center of Republican approaches to climate and energy policy during a period of intense national debate on these issues.

His involvement in the 2023 debt ceiling negotiations represented one of the more consequential moments of his congressional career, placing him in a role that had direct implications for federal fiscal policy and the broader economy. The negotiations demonstrated his ability to operate in high-pressure legislative environments and contributed to his standing within the House Republican leadership orbit.

The redistricting of his district, which led to his departure from Congress, illustrated the impact that the Voting Rights Act and judicial decisions regarding minority representation can have on individual political careers. His case became part of a broader discussion about the relationship between redistricting, representation, and electoral competition in the United States.

Following his departure from Congress, Graves's transition into roles focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure, electoral reform advocacy, and energy policy commentary suggested an ongoing engagement with public policy outside of elected office. His appointment as a fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and his co-chairmanship of the AI Infrastructure Coalition indicated continued influence in policy discussions at the national level.