Grier Raggio
Encyclopedia
Grier Raggio is an American
attorney and politician. He was a Democratic candidate in the 2010 election for the United States House of Representatives
seat in Texas's 32nd congressional district
. The race had been named by The Hill
as one of ten dark horse
races in the nation.
and moved to Dallas shorty after his father returned home from service in World War II
. Both of his parents were attorneys and his mother Louise
was a national leader in securing the equal rights of women before the law. Raggio's wife Lorraine is a Civil District Court Judge in Dallas County
. He has three children and two grandchildren.
, where he was class president
and an Eagle Scout
, before going onto to Harvard University
. Upon graduating, Raggio attended the University of Texas School of Law
before finishing his Juris Doctor
at Boston College
.
He started several small businesses and a law firm in New York City
before returning to Dallas to join his family's law practice.
Raggio ran a campaign premised on accountability and transparency, promising to pursue comprehensive ethics reform. A committed environmentalist, he believes that the United States should commit itself to reducing fossil fuel consumption by 50% before 2020.
Raggio's campaign was hurt by a national environment in which Republicans, led by Raggio's opponent NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions, saw massive gains nationwide and in Texas. On November 2, 2010, Raggio was defeated 63%-35%.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and politician. He was a Democratic candidate in the 2010 election for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
seat in Texas's 32nd congressional district
Texas's 32nd congressional district
Texas's 32nd congressional district of the United States House of Representatives serves a suburban area of northwestern Dallas, Texas. The district was created after the 2000 census when Texas went from 30 seats to 32 seats...
. The race had been named by The Hill
The Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
as one of ten dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
races in the nation.
Personal
Raggio was born in Elgin, TexasElgin, Texas
Elgin is a city in Bastrop and Travis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 5,700 at the 2000 census. By 2005, the population grew to an estimated 8,689...
and moved to Dallas shorty after his father returned home from service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Both of his parents were attorneys and his mother Louise
Louise Raggio
Louise Raggio was a Texas lawyer for more than fifty years. She was the first female prosecutor in Dallas County, Texas...
was a national leader in securing the equal rights of women before the law. Raggio's wife Lorraine is a Civil District Court Judge in Dallas County
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
. He has three children and two grandchildren.
Education and professional life
Raggio attended Highland Park High SchoolHighland Park High School (University Park, Texas)
Highland Park High School is located in University Park, Texas.Highland Park is a part of the Highland Park Independent School District. It serves all of the city of University Park, most of the town of Highland Park, and portions of Dallas.-History:...
, where he was class president
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
and an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, before going onto to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Upon graduating, Raggio attended the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
before finishing his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
He started several small businesses and a law firm in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before returning to Dallas to join his family's law practice.
Campaign
Raggio formally announced his candidacy in June 2009.Raggio ran a campaign premised on accountability and transparency, promising to pursue comprehensive ethics reform. A committed environmentalist, he believes that the United States should commit itself to reducing fossil fuel consumption by 50% before 2020.
Raggio's campaign was hurt by a national environment in which Republicans, led by Raggio's opponent NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions, saw massive gains nationwide and in Texas. On November 2, 2010, Raggio was defeated 63%-35%.