Jim Graves
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jim Graves
|party =Democratic-Farmer-Labor
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|9|27}}
|birth_place = St. Cloud, Minnesota
|alma_mater = {{nowrap|St. Cloud State University (BS)}}
|occupation = Businessman
|website =[http://jimgraves.com/ Jim Graves for Congress]
}}
James Joseph Graves (born September 27, 1953) is an American businessman and founder of the nationwide AmericInn hotel franchise. He was the Democratic Party nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota's 6th congressional district in 2012, challenging Republican incumbent Michele Bachmann.{{cite web|author=Murphy, Tim |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/meet-jim-graves-michele-bachmanns-newest-challenger |title=Meet Jim Graves, Michele Bachmann's Latest Would-Be Challenger |work=Mother Jones |date=April 12, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}}
A native of Minnesota, Graves graduated from St. Cloud State University with a BS in education. He worked as a teacher prior to founding the AmericInn in Rogers, Minnesota in 1979. As CEO, Graves grew the hotel from a small business to a nationwide hotel franchise. In 1993 he also co-founded the Graves Hospitality Corporation in Minneapolis. His luxury Graves 601 Hotel is rated by Travel + Leisure as one of the world's top 500 accommodations.{{cite web|last=Turrentine |first=Jeff |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/09/11/michele_bachmann_and_jim_graves_fight_for_minnesota_s_sixth_district.html |title=Michele Bachmann and Jim Graves Fight for Minnesota's Sixth District |work=Slate |date=September 11, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}}
Graves gained national attention during his competitive congressional race against Republican incumbent Michele Bachmann in 2012. Despite being outspent by a 12 to 1 margin in Minnesota's most conservative district, Graves lost the general election by 4,300 votes, or less than one-percent.[http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/07/14991266-tea-party-favorite-michele-bachmann-wins-tight-race-in-minnesota?lite Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann wins tight race in Minnesota], NBC News, November 7, 2012{{cite web|last=Wing |first=Nick |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/jim-graves-michele-bachmann_n_3062140.html |title=Jim Graves Taking on Michele Bachmann Again in 2014 |work=HuffPost |date=April 11, 2013 |accessdate=13 August 2013}} In 2013, he announced his candidacy for Minnesota's 6th congressional district. On May 31, 2013, Graves announced that he was suspending his campaign indefinitely.{{cite web|last=Black |first=Eric |url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/05/bachmann-not-running-jim-graves-pulls-out-6th-district-race |title=With Bachmann not running, Jim Graves pulls out of 6th District race |publisher=MinnPost |date=May 31, 2013 |accessdate=13 August 2013}}
Graves was inducted into the Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame in 2015.{{cite web | url=http://tcbmag.com/U-of-M-Minnesota-Business-Hall-of-Fame/2015-Minnesota-Business-Hall-of-Fame/Jim-Graves | title=Jim Graves }}
Early life and education
Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Graves attended Cathedral High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education from St. Cloud State University. During college, he and his wife performed as professional musicians and folk music singers.{{cite web|last=Boldt |first=Megan |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_21547268/bachmann-challenger-jim-graves-focuses-his-business-experience |title=Bachmann challenger Jim Graves focuses on his business experience |publisher=TwinCities.com |date=September 15, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}}
Professional background
Graves worked as a teacher at Holy Spirit Elementary School in St. Cloud for two years prior to entering business. In 1979 he founded AmericInn as a small business that expanded into a nationwide chain, and in 1993, began the luxury Graves Hospitality Corporation with his son.
2012 campaign
In 2012, Graves received the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives and began attracting national media attention after polls showed he was a competitive challenger to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Graves donated more than $500,000 to his own campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/310150034/Graves-campaign-raises-1M-third-quarter |title=Graves campaign raises $1M in third quarter |publisher=St. Cloud Times |date=October 15, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}} File:Jim Graves speaks to crowd at Buffalo, MN, Sept. 29, 2012.jpg
Graves' campaign received bipartisan support across the political spectrum. He was endorsed by former Republican Governor Arne Carlson of Minnesota,{{cite news|url=http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121023/NEWS01/310230032/Arne-Carlson-endorses-Graves |title=Former Republican governor Carlson endorses Graves |publisher=St. Cloud Times |date=October 23, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}} former Minnesota Independence Party Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Horner,{{cite web|last=Boldt |first=Megan |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_20753583/hotelier-graves-files-challenge-bachmann |title=Graves ready to challenge Bachmann in newly drawn 6th District for U.S. House |publisher=TwinCities.com |date=May 31, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}} and Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, among others.{{cite web|last=Kimball |first=Joe |url=http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2012/10/congressman-barney-frank-attend-jim-graves-fundraising-debate-watch |title=Congressman Barney Frank to attend Jim Graves fundraising debate watch |publisher=MinnPost |date=October 3, 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012}}
Graves came close to pulling off an upset victory against Rep. Bachmann, in what was one of the costliest congressional races in history. He lost by just one percent, despite being outspent twelve to one in what is widely considered Minnesota's most conservative district.
On the issue of abortion, during his 2012 campaign with Rep. Bachmann, Graves revealed he is pro-choice, stating during a Minnesota Public Radio-moderated debate that abortion is an issue between a woman, her family and her God: "I don't want the government to be involved in that process."{{cite web|url=http://www.bringmethenews.com/2012/11/01/abortion-dominates-second-debate-between-bachmann-graves/ |title=Abortion dominates second debate between Bachmann, Graves – Rick Kupchella's |publisher=BringMeTheNews.com |date=November 1, 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2013}}
2014 campaign
On April 11, 2013, Graves' campaign manager announced Graves' intention to run for the House of Representatives again in 2014, remaining in the sixth district.{{cite news |title=Graves makes it official: He's running in 6th again|author=Sommerhauser, Mark|url=http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130411/news01/304110035/graves-makes-official-he-s-running-6th-again|date=April 11, 2013|accessdate=April 11, 2013}}{{cite web|author=Camia, Catalina |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/05/31/bachmann-graves-congress-minnesota/2375835/ |title=Bachmann rival quits House race after her exit |work=USA Today |date=May 31, 2013 |accessdate=13 August 2013}}
After Rep. Bachmann decided not to run again, Graves announced that he was not running in 2014.
Personal
Graves is Catholic and has three sons with his wife, Julie. Graves has a net worth estimated between $22 million and $111 million (USD).
Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
References
{{refbegin|2}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140285963.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409061410/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140285963.html |url-status = dead|archive-date=April 9, 2016 |title=The Hard Business of Luxury |author=Feyden, Susan |date=December 26, 2005 |work=Star Tribune}}
- {{cite web |url=http://tcbmag.com/Leadership/Leaders/Rooms-at-the-Top |title=Rooms at the Top |date=February 1, 2009 |author=Wiley, Megan |work=Twin Cities Business}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/meet-jim-graves-michele-bachmanns-newest-challenger |title=Meet Jim Graves, Michele Bachmann's Latest Would-Be Challenger |date=April 12, 2012 |author=Murphy, Tim |work=Mother Jones}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/159817605.html |title=Graves' wealth is between $22M, $111M |author=Mitchell, Corey |work=Star Tribune |date=June 20, 2012}}
- {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/can-michele-bachmann-be-beat/2012/06/26/gJQAuPqt4V_blog.html |title=Can Michele Bachmann Be Beat? |date=June 26, 2012 |author=Weiner, Rachel |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/09/11/michele_bachmann_and_jim_graves_fight_for_minnesota_s_sixth_district.html |title=Hotelier James Graves Wants to Make Minnesota Boring Again |work=Slate |date=September 11, 2012 |author=Howley, Kerry}}
- {{cite web |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2012/campaign/races/candidates.php?identifier=6th-district |title=6th Congressional District Candidates |work=Minnesota Public Radio |year=2012}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://jimgraves.com/ Jim Graves for Congress] official campaign website – Nonworking link
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=138494 | fec=H2MN06198 | congress= }}
- [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MN06 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
- [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/25/politics/who-is-jim-graves/ Businessman Jim Graves is new type of challenge for Bachmann], Minnesota Public Radio, Conrad Wilson, October 25, 2012, text, audio and slideshow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graves, Jim}}
Category:People from St. Cloud, Minnesota