# Jim Graves

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**James Joseph Graves** (born September 27, 1953) is an American businessman and founder of the nationwide [AmericInn](/source/AmericInn) hotel franchise. He was the [Democratic Party](/source/Minnesota_Democratic%E2%80%93Farmer%E2%80%93Labor_Party) nominee for the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) in [Minnesota's 6th congressional district](/source/Minnesota's_6th_congressional_district) in [2012](/source/2012_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Minnesota), challenging [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) incumbent [Michele Bachmann](/source/Michele_Bachmann).[1]

A native of Minnesota, Graves graduated from [St. Cloud State University](/source/St._Cloud_State_University) with a BS in education. He worked as a teacher prior to founding the AmericInn in [Rogers](/source/Rogers,_Minnesota), 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](/source/Minneapolis).[2] His luxury Graves 601 Hotel is rated by *[Travel + Leisure](/source/Travel_%2B_Leisure)* as one of the world's top 500 accommodations.[3]

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.[4][5] In 2013, he announced his candidacy for Minnesota's 6th congressional district.[5] On May 31, 2013, Graves announced that he was suspending his campaign indefinitely.[6]

Graves was inducted into the Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame in 2015.[7]

## Early life and education

Born in [St. Cloud](/source/St._Cloud,_Minnesota), Minnesota, Graves attended [Cathedral High School](/source/Cathedral_High_School_(St._Cloud,_Minnesota)) before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education from [St. Cloud State University](/source/St._Cloud_State_University). During college, he and his wife performed as professional musicians and [folk music](/source/Folk_music) singers.[2]

## Professional background

Graves worked as a teacher at Holy Spirit Elementary School in [St. Cloud](/source/St._Cloud,_Minnesota) 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.[2]

## 2012 campaign

Main article: [2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota#District 6](/source/2012_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Minnesota#District_6)

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.[2] Graves donated more than $500,000 to his own campaign.[8]

Graves' campaign received [bipartisan](/source/Bipartisan) support across the political spectrum. He was endorsed by former Republican Governor [Arne Carlson](/source/Arne_Carlson) of Minnesota,[9] former Minnesota [Independence Party](/source/Independence_Party_of_Minnesota) Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Horner,[10] and [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts) Democratic Congressman [Barney Frank](/source/Barney_Frank), among others.[11]

Graves came close to pulling off an [upset victory](/source/Upset_(competition)) 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.[4]

On the issue of abortion, during his 2012 campaign with Rep. Bachmann, Graves revealed he is [pro-choice](/source/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."[12]

## 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.[13][14]

After [Rep. Bachmann](/source/Michele_Bachmann) decided not to run again, Graves announced that he was not running in 2014.

## Personal

Graves is [Catholic](/source/Catholic) and has three sons with his wife, Julie. Graves has a net worth estimated between $22 million and $111 million (USD).[2]

## Notes

1. Murphy, Tim (April 12, 2012). ["Meet Jim Graves, Michele Bachmann's Latest Would-Be Challenger"](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/meet-jim-graves-michele-bachmanns-newest-challenger). *Mother Jones*. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. Boldt, Megan (September 15, 2012). ["Bachmann challenger Jim Graves focuses on his business experience"](http://www.twincities.com/ci_21547268/bachmann-challenger-jim-graves-focuses-his-business-experience). TwinCities.com. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. Turrentine, Jeff (September 11, 2012). ["Michele Bachmann and Jim Graves Fight for Minnesota's Sixth District"](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/09/11/michele_bachmann_and_jim_graves_fight_for_minnesota_s_sixth_district.html). *Slate*. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. [Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann wins tight race in Minnesota](http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/07/14991266-tea-party-favorite-michele-bachmann-wins-tight-race-in-minnesota?lite), NBC News, November 7, 2012

1. Wing, Nick (April 11, 2013). ["Jim Graves Taking on Michele Bachmann Again in 2014"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/jim-graves-michele-bachmann_n_3062140.html). *HuffPost*. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

1. Black, Eric (May 31, 2013). ["With Bachmann not running, Jim Graves pulls out of 6th District race"](http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2013/05/bachmann-not-running-jim-graves-pulls-out-6th-district-race). MinnPost. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

1. ["Jim Graves"](http://tcbmag.com/U-of-M-Minnesota-Business-Hall-of-Fame/2015-Minnesota-Business-Hall-of-Fame/Jim-Graves)

1. ["Graves campaign raises $1M in third quarter"](http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/310150034/Graves-campaign-raises-1M-third-quarter). St. Cloud Times. October 15, 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.[dead link]

1. ["Former Republican governor Carlson endorses Graves"](http://www.sctimes.com/article/20121023/NEWS01/310230032/Arne-Carlson-endorses-Graves). St. Cloud Times. October 23, 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.[dead link]

1. Boldt, Megan (May 31, 2012). ["Graves ready to challenge Bachmann in newly drawn 6th District for U.S. House"](http://www.twincities.com/ci_20753583/hotelier-graves-files-challenge-bachmann). TwinCities.com. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. Kimball, Joe (October 3, 2012). ["Congressman Barney Frank to attend Jim Graves fundraising debate watch"](http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2012/10/congressman-barney-frank-attend-jim-graves-fundraising-debate-watch). MinnPost. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. ["Abortion dominates second debate between Bachmann, Graves – Rick Kupchella's"](http://www.bringmethenews.com/2012/11/01/abortion-dominates-second-debate-between-bachmann-graves/). BringMeTheNews.com. November 1, 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

1. Sommerhauser, Mark (April 11, 2013). ["Graves makes it official: He's running in 6th again"](http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130411/news01/304110035/graves-makes-official-he-s-running-6th-again). Retrieved April 11, 2013.[dead link]

1. Camia, Catalina (May 31, 2013). ["Bachmann rival quits House race after her exit"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/05/31/bachmann-graves-congress-minnesota/2375835/). *USA Today*. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

## References

- Feyden, Susan (December 26, 2005). ["The Hard Business of Luxury"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160409061410/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140285963.html). *[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140285963.html) on April 9, 2016.
- Wiley, Megan (February 1, 2009). ["Rooms at the Top"](http://tcbmag.com/Leadership/Leaders/Rooms-at-the-Top). *Twin Cities Business*
- Murphy, Tim (April 12, 2012). ["Meet Jim Graves, Michele Bachmann's Latest Would-Be Challenger"](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/meet-jim-graves-michele-bachmanns-newest-challenger). *[Mother Jones](/source/Mother_Jones_(magazine))*
- Mitchell, Corey (June 20, 2012). ["Graves' wealth is between $22M, $111M"](http://www.startribune.com/politics/159817605.html). *[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune)*
- Weiner, Rachel (June 26, 2012). ["Can Michele Bachmann Be Beat?"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/can-michele-bachmann-be-beat/2012/06/26/gJQAuPqt4V_blog.html). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*
- Howley, Kerry (September 11, 2012). ["Hotelier James Graves Wants to Make Minnesota Boring Again"](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/09/11/michele_bachmann_and_jim_graves_fight_for_minnesota_s_sixth_district.html). *[Slate](/source/Slate_(magazine))*
- ["6th Congressional District Candidates"](http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2012/campaign/races/candidates.php?identifier=6th-district). *[Minnesota Public Radio](/source/Minnesota_Public_Radio)*. 2012.

## External links

- [Jim Graves for Congress](http://jimgraves.com/) official campaign website – Nonworking link
- [Campaign contributions](http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MN06) at [OpenSecrets.org](/source/OpenSecrets.org)
- [Businessman Jim Graves is new type of challenge for Bachmann](http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/25/politics/who-is-jim-graves/), [Minnesota Public Radio](/source/Minnesota_Public_Radio), Conrad Wilson, October 25, 2012, text, audio and slideshow

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jim Graves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Graves) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Graves?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.