Rep. Garret Graves Announces Decision Not to Seek Reelection After Supreme Court Alters District Lines

Baton Rouge, Louisiana United States of America
Graves had initially indicated he would run for reelection but decided against it due to concerns about temporary districts damaging Louisiana's representation in Congress.
Graves was a close ally of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and played lead role in negotiating May 2023 deal to avoid US debt default. He was also targeted for not endorsing Gov. Jeff Landry in last year's election.
Long legal battle over congressional lines in Louisiana resulted in new map, which likely violated Voting Rights Act and redrew Graves' district as Louisiana's second Black-majority district.
New district lines significantly altered Graves' 6th Congressional District and made it more Democratic.
Rep. Garret Graves announced on June 14, 2024 that he will not seek reelection to Congress due to Supreme Court allowing new district lines.
Rep. Garret Graves Announces Decision Not to Seek Reelection After Supreme Court Alters District Lines

Rep. Garret Graves, a Republican from Louisiana, announced on June 14, 2024 that he will not seek reelection to Congress after the Supreme Court allowed the state to use a new congressional map in this year's elections. The map significantly altered Graves' district and made it more Democratic.

Graves had initially indicated that he would run for reelection, but after much consultation with constituents, supporters, family, and guidance from his faith, he decided against it. He expressed concern that running in any temporary district would cause permanent damage to Louisiana's representation in Congress.

The new map was created after a long legal battle over congressional lines in Louisiana. The US Supreme Court allowed the state to use the new map despite concerns that it likely violated the Voting Rights Act. Under this map, Graves' 6th Congressional District was redrawn into Louisiana's second Black-majority district, which is expected to be won by Democrats.

Graves had previously been a close ally of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and played a lead role in negotiating the May 2023 deal to avoid a default on US debt. He was also targeted for not endorsing Gov. Jeff Landry in last year's election.

Graves' decision leaves two Democrats, state Sen. Cleo Fields and social justice activist Quentin Anthony Anderson, running for the 6th District seat in November.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • The article mentions concerns that the new map likely violated the Voting Rights Act, but it does not provide any specific evidence or citations to support this claim.

Sources

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Rep. Garret Graves announced on Friday that he will not seek another term in Congress.
    • Graves cited the Supreme Court’s ruling on redrawing the 6th Congressional District as a factor in his decision not to run for reelection.
    • The redrawn district left Graves with either an uphill battle in his district or potentially running against Rep. Julia Letlow (R) in the neighboring 5th Congressional District.
    • Graves predicted that the districts would be shaken up again after the 2024 elections.
    • Graves is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which he lamented losing influence on due to redistricting.
  • Accuracy
    • The new lines crafted by the GOP-controlled state Legislature redrew Graves’ 6th Congressional District into Louisiana’s second Black-majority district, which Joe Biden would have carried by 20 points in 2020.
    • Graves was first elected to Congress in 2014 and won re-election in 2022 for a district covering parts of southern Louisiana near Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
    • Graves stood a decent chance of defeating Letlow with the shift in the 5th District’s population.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Republican Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana announced he will not seek reelection after the new congressional map made his seat significantly more Democratic.
    • The US Supreme Court allowed the state to use the new map in this year’s elections after a long legal battle over congressional lines in Louisiana.
    • Graves predicted that the districts would be shaken up again after the 2024 elections.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • Louisianas Rep. Garret Graves announced he would not seek re-election after the Supreme Court ruled on redistricting.
    • Graves cited redistricting as the reason for not seeking re-election, stating that running for Congress this year does not make sense.
    • During his tenure, Graves served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.
    • Graves was tapped by then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy for building the coalition to lift the debt ceiling, preventing a global financial crisis.
    • McCarthy praised Graves, stating that he never would have been elected Speaker without Graves and considered himself lucky to have served with him.
  • Accuracy
    • Louisisana Rep. Garret Graves announced he would not seek re-election after the Supreme Court ruled on redistricting.
    • Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) announced on Friday that he will not seek another term in Congress.
    • Graves cited the Supreme Court’s ruling on redrawing the 6th Congressional District as a factor in his decision not to run for reelection.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author does not make any explicit fallacious statements in the article. However, there are a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to emotion that slightly lower the score.
    • ][McCarthy] praised Graves on Friday, saying in a statement posted to X that his absence will be a major loss for the conference and the entire House.[/
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Graves will not run for reelection in Louisiana
    • Speculation about Graves running for reelection has ended
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Rep. Garret Graves announced he will not seek re-election to Congress.
    • Louisiana lawmakers altered the district, sacrificing Graves’ seat after federal courts told the state to create a second minority-majority district.
    • Graves was targeted for not endorsing Gov. Jeff Landry in last year’s election.
    • Graves expressed concern that running in any temporary district would cause permanent damage to Louisiana’s representation in Congress.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication