Jim Graves

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.

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.

Cloud, Minnesota, Graves attended Cathedral High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education from St.

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.

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.