View source for Sam Graves

{{Short description|American politician (born 1963)}}
{{About|the U.S. representative from Missouri|other persons with similar names|Samuel Graves (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sam Graves
| image               = Sam Graves ca 118th Congress.JPG
| caption             = Official portrait, c. 2023-2024
| office              = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2023
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Peter DeFazio]]
| successor           = 
| office1             = Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation Committee]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2019
| term_end1           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor1        = [[Peter DeFazio]]
| successor1          = [[Rick Larsen]]
| office2             = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Small Business|House Small Business Committee]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2011
| term_end2           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor2        = [[Nydia Velázquez]]
| successor2          = [[Steve Chabot]]
| office3             = Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Small Business|House Small Business Committee]]
| term_start3         = January 3, 2009
| term_end3           = January 3, 2011
| predecessor3        = [[Steve Chabot]]
| successor3          = [[Nydia Velázquez]]
| state4              = [[Missouri]]
| district4           = {{ushr|MO|6|6th}}
| term_start4         = January 3, 2001
| term_end4           = 
| predecessor4        = [[Pat Danner]]
| state_senate5       = Missouri
| district5           = 12th
| term_start5         = January 4, 1995
| term_end5           = January 3, 2001
| predecessor5        = [[Glen Klippenstein]]
| successor5          = [[David Klindt]]
| state_house6        = Missouri
| district6           = 4th
| term_start6         = January 6, 1993
| term_end6           = January 4, 1995
| predecessor6        = Phil Tate
| successor6          = [[Rex Barnett]]
| birth_name          = Samuel Bruce Graves Jr.
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1963|11|7}}
| birth_place         = [[Tarkio, Missouri]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Lesley Hickok|1986|2012}}
| children            = 3
| relatives           = [[Todd Graves (attorney)|Todd Graves]] (brother)
| education           = [[University of Missouri]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| website             = {{url|graves.house.gov|House website}}<br>{{url|gravesforcongress.com|Campaign website}}
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Sam Graves Speaks in Favour of a Resolution to Terminate the COVID-19 National Emergency.ogg |title=Graves's voice |type=speech |description=Graves supporting a joint resolution to end the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States#January to March 2023|COVID-19 national emergency]].<br>Recorded February 1, 2023}}
}}
'''Samuel Bruce Graves Jr.''' (born November 7, 1963) is an American [[politician]] best known for serving in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] for {{ushr|MO|6}}, with him being the dean of [[Missouri's congressional districts|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, Missouri|Kansas City metropolitan area]].

Graves is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. He has notably served as the [[Chair (officer)|Chair]] in charge of the influential [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]] in the U.S. House for multiple years, with him being able to exceed the [[Term limits in the United States|system of American term limits]] normally enforced by the Republican leadership.<ref>https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/sam-graves-transportation-committee-waiver</ref>

The Center for Effective Lawmaking, at [[Vanderbilt University|Vanderbilt University]] and the [[University of Virginia|University of Virginia]], ranked him as the most effective House Republican in the 118th Congress (2023–25).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thelawmakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_27_2025.pdf|title=Highlights from the New 118th Congress Legislative Effectiveness Scores|last=Volden|first=Craig|date=March 24, 2025|work=Center for Effective Lawmaking|access-date=October 15, 2025}}</ref>

==Early life==
Graves was born on November 7, 1963, in [[Tarkio, Missouri]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://graves.house.gov/about|title=Meet Sam|date=December 3, 2012|work=Congressman Sam Graves|access-date=August 23, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He is the son of Janice A. (née Hord) and Samuel Bruce Graves, and the brother of attorney [[Todd Graves (attorney)|Todd Graves]].<ref name="news-leader1">{{cite news |url=http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/BLOGS09/80930039 | title=Kit Bond apologizes for staff's role in firing of federal prosecutor | publisher=[[The News Leader]] |date= September 30, 2008 | access-date =May 17, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources|University of Missouri College of Agriculture]] with a degree in agronomy.<ref name=":0" /> He is a member of the [[Alpha Gamma Sigma (fraternity)|Alpha Gamma Sigma]] fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nicindy.org/about/notable-fraternity-alumni/political-leaders/|title=Greek Political Leaders {{!}} North-American Interfraternity Conference|website=nicindy.org|language=en-US|access-date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913135053/http://nicindy.org/about/notable-fraternity-alumni/political-leaders/|archive-date=September 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Missouri legislature==
Graves was elected to the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=447273 |title=Our Campaigns - MO State House 004 Race - Nov 03, 1992 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com |access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref> After one term, he was elected to the [[Missouri Senate]] in 1994 and reelected in 1998.<ref name=":0" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==

=== 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."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/sep/30/graves-boyda-vote-against-700b-bailout-us-house/ | title=Graves, Boyda vote against $700B bailout in the U.S. House | publisher=[[The News-Press]] | date=September 30, 2008 | access-date=May 17, 2007 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930193359/http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/sep/30/graves-boyda-vote-against-700b-bailout-us-house/ | archive-date=September 30, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://riponadvance.com/news/graves-proposes-changes-military-family-health-coverage/6420 "Graves proposes changes to military family health coverage"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301225911/http://riponadvance.com/news/graves-proposes-changes-military-family-health-coverage/6420 |date=March 1, 2014 }}. ''Ripon Advance''. 1/31/14. Retrieved 2/7/14.</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/sam-graves|title = Check out Representative Sam Graves's Environmental Voting Record|date = February 17, 2021}}</ref>

==== Boeing 737 MAX crashes ====
Graves blamed on May 13, 2019, at the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-15 |title=How much was pilot error a factor in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/how-much-was-pilot-error-a-factor-in-the-boeing-737-max-crashes/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-22 |title=Blaming Dead Pilots Brought to You by Boeing |url=https://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/blaming-dead-pilots-brought-to-you-by-boeing/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Corporate Crime Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Washington |first=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]
** [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces|Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces]]
* [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|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]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute |url=https://www.ccainstitute.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Congressional Taiwan Caucus |url=https://sherman.house.gov/taiwancaucus |access-date=12 August 2025 |publisher=Congressman Brad Sherman}}</ref>
* [[United States–China Working Group]]<ref>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Our Mission |url=https://larsen.house.gov/uscwg/ |accessdate=26 February 2025 |publisher=U.S.-China Working Group |format=}}</ref>

==Ethics investigation==
In 2009, the [[United States House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct|House Ethics Committee]] began an inquiry into whether Graves used his position on the [[United States House Committee on Small Business|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."<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1538682.html]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> 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."<ref>
 {{cite news
 |first=Larry |last=Margasak
 |title=Ethics panel defers probe on Jesse Jackson Jr.
 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isD4Tm-5D4OFcA0LUEPQcnltY46AD9AOHICO2
 |agency=Associated Press
 |date=September 16, 2009  |access-date=September 16, 2009
}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> 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.<ref>Larry Margasak [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091030/ap_on_bi_ge/us_congress_leaked_ethics_report] Congressional ethics report leaked, reveals names LARRY MARGASAK, October 30, 2009  Associated Press</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-303.html |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120907070916/http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-303.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Campaign Legal Center blog: Fault Ethics Committee, Not OCE |publisher=Clcblog.org |date=November 20, 2009 |access-date=August 22, 2010 }}</ref>

==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.
[[File:George Bush visit Kansas City Assembly.jpg|thumb|right|Graves on the left with President [[George W. Bush]] at the [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[Kansas City Assembly]] Plant in [[Claycomo, Missouri]] on March 20, 2007]]
[[File:President Barack Obama greets Representative Sam Graves.jpg|thumb|right|Graves greeting President [[Barack Obama]] in the [[Blue Room (White House)|Blue Room]] of the [[White House]] on May 2, 2011]]
[[File:President Donald Trump and Sam Graves at the signing of the FAA bill.jpg|thumb|right|Graves with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] at the signing of the FAA bill on October 5, 2018]]
[[File:President Joe Biden meets with a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.jpg|thumb|right|Graves and a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee]] meet with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Joe Biden]] on March 4, 2021]]
In 2000, [[Democratic Party (United States)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=14&oid=3990&arc=1 |title=Missouri Secretary of State |website=Sos.mo.gov |access-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030015836/http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=14&oid=3990&arc=1 |archive-date=October 30, 2014 }}</ref>

===1992===
{{Election box begin no change|title= 1992 Election for Missouri House of Representatives 4th District}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sam Graves
  |votes      = 7,837
  |percentage = 56.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Everett W. Brown
  |votes      = 6,038
  |percentage = 43.52%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 13,875
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}

===1994===
{{Election box begin no change|title= 1994 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sam Graves
  |votes      = 35,221
  |percentage = 60.61%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug R. Hughes
  |votes      = 22,888
  |percentage = 39.31%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 58,109
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}

===1998===
{{Election box begin no change|title= 1998 Election for Missouri Senate 12th District}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sam Graves
  |votes      = 31,883
  |percentage = 62.69%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Beth M. Wheeler
  |votes      = 18,974
  |percentage = 37.31%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 50,857
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2000===
{{Election box open primary begin no change
|title= 2000 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Sam Graves
 |votes      = 30,014
 |percentage = 68.05
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Teresa Anne Loar
 |votes      = 7,493
 |percentage = 16.99
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Jeff Bailey
 |votes      = 4,575
 |percentage = 10.37
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = John Dady
 |votes      = 1,122
 |percentage = 2.54
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Jack C. DeSalms
 |votes      = 901
 |percentage = 2.04
}}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes      = 44,105
 |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 138,925
 |percentage = 50.85
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Steve Danner
 |votes = 127,792
 |percentage = 46.78
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Jimmy Dykes
 |votes = 3,696
 |percentage = 1.35
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Natural Law Party (United States)
 |candidate = Marie Richey
 |votes = 2,788
 |percentage = 1.02
 }}
{{Election box total no change
|votes     = 273,201
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2002===
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2002 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 131,151
 |percentage = 63.03
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Cathy Rinehart
 |votes = 73,202
 |percentage = 35.18
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Erik Buck
 |votes = 3,735
 |percentage = 1.79
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes       = 208,088
 |percentage  = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2004===
[[File:Sam Graves, Official Portrait, c113th Congress.jpg|thumb|right|Graves during the<br>[[108th United States Congress|108th Congress]]]]
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2004 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 196,516
 |percentage = 63.83
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Charles S. Broomfield
 |votes = 106,987
 |percentage = 34.75
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Erik Buck
 |votes = 4,352
 |percentage = 1.41
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes       = 307,855
 |percentage  = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2006===
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2006 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 150,882
 |percentage = 61.64
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sara Jo Shettles
 |votes = 87,477
 |percentage = 35.73
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Erik Buck
 |votes = 4,757
 |percentage = 1.94
 }}
{{Election box candidate minor party no change
 |party = Progressive Party
 |candidate = Shirley A. Yurkonis
 |votes = 1,679
 |percentage = 0.69
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes       = 244,795
 |percentage  = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2008===
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri#District 6}}
In 2008, Graves' Democratic challenger was former [[List of mayors of Kansas City, Missouri|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%.
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2008 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 196,526
 |percentage = 59.43
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = [[Kay Barnes]]
 |votes = 121,894
 |percentage = 36.86
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Dave Browning
 |votes = 12,279
 |percentage = 3.71
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes      = 330,699
 |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2010===
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri#District 6}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
|title= 2010 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party         = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate     = Sam Graves
 |votes         = 54,566
 |percentage    = 82.46%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party         = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate     = Christopher Ryan
 |votes         = 11,608
 |percentage    = 17.53%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes         = 66,174
 |percentage    = 100
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 154,103
 |percentage = 69.44
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Clint Hylton
 |votes = 67,762
 |percentage = 30.54
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Write-in candidate|Write-in
 |candidate = Kyle Yarber
 |votes = 47
 |percentage = 0.02
}}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes       = 221,912
 |percentage  = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2012===
{{Election box open primary begin no change
|title= 2012 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Sam Graves
 |votes      = 59,388
 |percentage = 80.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Christopher Ryan
 |votes      = 9,945
 |percentage = 13.45%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party      = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate  = Bob Gough
 |votes      = 4,598
 |percentage = 6.22%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes      = 73,931
 |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 216,906
 |percentage = 65.00
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Kyle Yarber
 |votes = 108,503
 |percentage = 32.52
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Russ Monchil
 |votes = 8,279
 |percentage = 2.48
}}
{{Election box total no change
 |votes        = 333,688
 |percentage   = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2014===
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2014 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 124,616
 |percentage = 66.65
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Bill Hedge
 |votes = 55,157
 |percentage = 29.50
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Russ Monchil
 |votes = 7,197
 |percentage = 3.85
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2016===
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2016 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 238,388
 |percentage = 68.0
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = David Blackwell
 |votes = 98,588
 |percentage = 28.4
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Russ Monchil
 |votes = 8,123
 |percentage = 2.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Green Party (United States)
 |candidate = Mike Diel
 |votes = 4,241
 |percentage = 1.2
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2018===
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2018 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Sam Graves
 |votes = 199,796
 |percentage = 65.4
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Henry Martin
 |votes = 97,660
 |percentage = 32.0
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Dan Hogan
 |votes = 7,953
 |percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2020===
{{Election box begin no change
| title= 2020 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = Sam Graves
| votes      = 258,709
| percentage = 67.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Gena Ross
| votes      = 118,926
| percentage = 30.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate  = Jim Higgins
| votes      = 8,144
| percentage = 2.1
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2022===
{{Election box begin no change
| title= 2022 Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 6th Congressional District
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = Sam Graves
| votes      = 184,865
| percentage = 70.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Henry Martin
| votes      = 72,253
| percentage = 27.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate  = Edward A (Andy) Maidment
| votes      = 5,774
| percentage = 2.2
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2024===
{{Election box begin no change|title= 2024 Election for U.S. Representative for Missouri's 6th congressional district}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Sam Graves (incumbent)|votes= 265,210|percentage= 70.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Pam May|votes=100,999|percentage=26.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Andy Maidment|votes=5,919|percentage=1.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=Mike Diel|votes=3,058|percentage=0.8}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=375,186|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box hold with party link no change
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOPA Q&A with US Rep. Sam Graves |author= |work=aopa.org |date=6 March 2020 |access-date=9 August 2022 |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/06/aopa-q-and-a-with-us-rep-sam-graves}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip Near Graves' Land - Roll Call |author=Matthew Murray |work=Roll Call |date=6 November 2007 |access-date=9 August 2022 |url=https://rollcall.com/2007/11/06/federal-cash-rebuilds-airstrip-near-graves-land/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aviation's Man in Washington |last=Shiner |first=Linda |work=Smithsonian Magazine |date=March 2014 |access-date=9 August 2022 |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/aviations-man-washington-180949508/}}</ref> Graves is a [[Baptists|Baptist.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/12/PF_2023.01.03_congress_LIST.pdf |publisher=PEW Research Center |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://graves.house.gov Congressman Sam Graves] official U.S. House website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101028214329/http://www.gravesforcongress.com/ Sam Graves for Congress]
* {{C-SPAN|89873}}{{CongLinks | congbio=g000546 | votesmart=9425 | fec=H0MO06073 | congress=sam-graves/1656 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graves, Sam}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly]]
[[Category:20th-century Missouri politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century Missouri politicians]]
[[Category:Baptists from Missouri]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tarkio, Missouri]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri]]
[[Category:Republican Party Missouri state senators]]
[[Category:University of Missouri alumni]]