By Emily Ethridge, CQ Staff

Election: Defeated Rep. Ric Keller , R

Residence: Orlando

Born: March 13, 1958; Bronx, N.Y.

Religion: Jewish

Family: Wife, Lolita Grayson; five children

Education: Harvard U., A.B. 1978 (urban studies), M.P.P 1983, J.D. 1983

Career: Lawyer; telecommunications company owner

Political highlights: Sought Democratic nomination for U.S. House, 2006

Grayson’s work investigating government fraud and waste in the Iraq War has led him to call for shifting the country’s focus to domestic needs.

Grayson has defended whistleblowers who accused defense contractors of wrongdoing and has testified to Congress four times on contractor fraud in Iraq. In Congress, he will be another voice calling for an extrication of U.S. troops.

Continued involvement in the conflict could destroy the U.S. economy, Grayson says. His plan for the economy includes shifting money toward domestic needs, such as rebuilding infrastructure, improving education and revamping the health care system.

Grayson supports expanding health care coverage to all Americans and ensuring that all citizens have the power to choose their own medical providers.

Another priority is working on the trade deficit and the federal budget deficit.