Randy Graf
Encyclopedia
Randy J. Graf is a former member of the Arizona
State House
. He was the Republican
nominee for in 2006. The district occupies most of Tucson
, all of Cochise County
, and parts of Pima
, Pinal
, and Santa Cruz
counties.
Chamber of Commerce.
Graf grew up in Green Bay, WI and graduated from Southwest High School in 1977. Graf has worked as a golf pro and is a former member of the Professional Golfers' Association.
In 2000, Graf was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives from the 30th District. He served there from 2000 to 2004. During his second term in the legislature, Graf was elected as House Majority Whip. He also served as the state chairman of the American Legislative Exchange.
In 2004, Graf ran for the 8th District House seat. He lost in the Republican primary to the incumbent, Republican U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe
.
In 2004, Graf appeared on The Daily Show
as the butt of a mock interview titled "A Round of Shots." Ed Helms
asked him about his introduction of a bill in the Arizona legislature that would allow people to bring concealed handguns into bars .
leaders.
Graf faced Democrat
Gabrielle Giffords
and Libertarian David Nolan
in the November 7, 2006, general election. During his post-primary campaign, national Republican leaders were for the most part cool towards Graf's candidacy, believing him too conservative for the district.
In both 2004 and 2006, Graf campaigned with a "get tough" message on illegal immigration, a "hot button" issue, especially for residents living along Arizona's border with Mexico, which has become a major crossing point for smuggling. He also aligned himself with U.S. Representatives Tom Tancredo
of Colorado
and Steve King
of Iowa
, who proposed enhanced border security. Graf was also a senior advisor for Proposition 200, an initiative passed by Arizona voters in 2004 to prevent welfare and voter fraud.
Graf describes himself as pro-life
, against same-sex marriage, in favor of continued U.S. support for Israel, and in favor of tort reforms and medical care choice as a way of lowering health insurance rates.
Graf was defeated by Giffords in the general election by a 54.1%-42.2% margin. http://www.votegraf.com/randygraf/results.php
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
State House
Arizona House of Representatives
The Arizona House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its members are elected to two-year terms with a term limit of four consecutive terms...
. He was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for in 2006. The district occupies most of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, all of Cochise County
Cochise County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and parts of Pima
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Pinal
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.5% White*0.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*22.9% Other races*82.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties.
Background
Graf was elected in 1994 to serve on the governing board of the Continental School District. In 1998 he was elected Board President. He also served as the government relations liaison to the Green ValleyGreen Valley, Arizona
Green Valley is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 17,283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Green Valley is located at ....
Chamber of Commerce.
Graf grew up in Green Bay, WI and graduated from Southwest High School in 1977. Graf has worked as a golf pro and is a former member of the Professional Golfers' Association.
In 2000, Graf was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives from the 30th District. He served there from 2000 to 2004. During his second term in the legislature, Graf was elected as House Majority Whip. He also served as the state chairman of the American Legislative Exchange.
In 2004, Graf ran for the 8th District House seat. He lost in the Republican primary to the incumbent, Republican U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe
Jim Kolbe
James Thomas "Jim" Kolbe is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's 8th congressional district, serving 11 terms from 1985 to 2007.-Early life:...
.
In 2004, Graf appeared on The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
as the butt of a mock interview titled "A Round of Shots." Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
asked him about his introduction of a bill in the Arizona legislature that would allow people to bring concealed handguns into bars .
2006 congressional campaign
Kolbe did not run for re-election in 2006. Graf won a bitterly-fought primary with a plurality of the vote against four other Republicans, including a Republican candidate endorsed by Kolbe and national GOPRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
leaders.
Graf faced Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Gabrielle Giffords
Gabrielle Giffords
Gabrielle Dee "Gabby" Giffords is an American politician. A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, she has represented since 2007. She is the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to the U.S. Congress...
and Libertarian David Nolan
David Nolan (Libertarian Party)
David Fraser Nolan was an American activist and politician. He was one of the founders of the Libertarian Party of the United States, having hosted the meeting in 1971 at which the Party was founded.Douglas Martin, . New York Times, November 22, 2010...
in the November 7, 2006, general election. During his post-primary campaign, national Republican leaders were for the most part cool towards Graf's candidacy, believing him too conservative for the district.
In both 2004 and 2006, Graf campaigned with a "get tough" message on illegal immigration, a "hot button" issue, especially for residents living along Arizona's border with Mexico, which has become a major crossing point for smuggling. He also aligned himself with U.S. Representatives Tom Tancredo
Tom Tancredo
Thomas Gerard "Tom" Tancredo is an American politician from Colorado, who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, as a Republican...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Steve King
Steve King
Steven Arnold "Steve" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district is located in the western part of the state and includes Sioux City and Council Bluffs....
of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, who proposed enhanced border security. Graf was also a senior advisor for Proposition 200, an initiative passed by Arizona voters in 2004 to prevent welfare and voter fraud.
Graf describes himself as pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, against same-sex marriage, in favor of continued U.S. support for Israel, and in favor of tort reforms and medical care choice as a way of lowering health insurance rates.
Graf was defeated by Giffords in the general election by a 54.1%-42.2% margin. http://www.votegraf.com/randygraf/results.php