The family said they were "deeply saddened to report the passing of a visionary leader, a dedicated public servant, and, most importantly, a loving husband, father, and great-grandfather." Graham remained very popular among Florida voters, winning re-election by wide margins in 1992 and 1998. In this last election, he defeated Charlie Crist, who later served as Republican governor from 2007 to 2011.
“I learned to respect him even more than he already respected me, and to love him for the good and decent man that he was," Crist said. Graham had a shaky start as Florida's chief executive, and was nicknamed "Governor' Graham'. In 1966, he was elected to the Florida Legislative Assembly, where he focused primarily on education and healthcare issues. The following year he led a successful petition campaign for a state constitutional amendment creating the Board of Governors to assume the role of regents in the state university system. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1988. He also served in the Florida Senate from 1987 to 1991.