The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide

Rep.-elect Alan Grayson (D-Fla.-09)

DATE OF BIRTH: March 13, 1958

BIRTHPLACE: New York, N.Y.

RESIDENCE: Orlando, Fla.

OCCUPATION: Lawyer 

EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., M.P.P, Harvard University

PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2008-2010

FAMILY: Wife, Lolita; five children

Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) beat Republican opponent Todd Long and will return to the House for his second, non-consecutive term.

Grayson is well-known for his confrontational style and liberal politics. He will represent Florida’s new and heavily Democratic 9th district. 

He formerly served on the Financial Services Committee and the Science and Technology Committee. During his previous term in office, he was an ardent supporter of President Obama’s healthcare law. He was swept away in the Republican wave election of 2010, losing to Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) by nearly 20 points. 

Grayson chose to compete in the open 9th district this cycle and avoided another run against Webster. 

The Democrat is the former president and founder of IDT Corp., a telephone service company. Grayson also practices law and often touts his successful litigation of a fraud case against war profiteers.