John Cooper (Arkansas politician)

John R. Cooper (born 1947), is a Republican politician from Jonesboro, Arkansas. He won a special election to fill a partial term in the Arkansas Senate in 2014, and was reelected in 2016. He lost his reelection bid in the Republican Primary in March 2020.

John R. Cooper
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 21st district
In office January 29, 2014 – January 11, 2021
Preceded by	Paul Bookout
Succeeded by	Dan Sullivan
Personal details
Born	1947 (age 73–74) Heber Springs, Arkansas
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Betty Sue
Children	2
Residence	Jonesboro, Arkansas
Occupation	Retired (AT&T); Primitive Baptist Minister
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army

Electoral history

2012 Arkansas House of Representatives

Cooper ran for the District 59 Arkansas House of Representatives in 2012 against Democrat Butch Wilkins. Wilkins defeated Cooper, but was term-limited in 2014.[1]

Arkansas House of Representatives District 59

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Butch Wilkins	4,390	53.7%
	Republican	John R. Cooper	3,790	46.3%
	Democratic hold

2014 Arkansas Senate (special)

Cooper intended to run for the District 59 seat again in 2014, but rather entered a special election for District 21 in the Arkansas Senate following Paul Bookout's resignation in 2013 under an ethics cloud.[2] In the three- candidate Republican primary on October 8, 2013,[3] Cooper won the primary by 6 votes over Dan Sullivan, with Chad Niell in a distant third, but failed to obtain the 50% necessary to avoid a runoff election.[4] Cooper defeated Sullivan in the November 12, 2013 runoff by 67 votes.67 votes[5]

The general election pitted Cooper against Steven Eric Rockwell, who had emerged from a Democratic primary. Cooper carried the support of the Tea Party movement. Rockwell manages his family printing and publishing business in Jonesboro and called himself a "centrist" in the race.[6] Retiring Democratic Governor Mike Beebe cut ads for Rockwell.[7] The election quickly became centered on the Private Option, with Rockwell for and Cooper against. It was also closely watched as a bellwether for the November 2014 elections in Arkansas.[8][9]

Cooper won election on January 14, 2014, and was seated in the 89th Arkansas General Assembly. Cooper became the 23rd Republican in the 35-member Arkansas Senate, which had been 100 percent Democratic until 1969. In the campaign, Cooper said that he considers ethics reform and wasteful government spending among his legislative priorities.[1]

Arkansas Senate District 21 Special Election[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John R. Cooper	4,314	57.2
	Democratic	Steven Eric Rockwell	3,227	42.8
	Republican gain from Democratic

2016 Arkansas Senate

In November 2016, Cooper won re-election to a full term in the Arkansas Senate unopposed in either the Republican primary or the general election.[11]

2020 Arkansas Senate

Cooper was primaried by House Rep. Dan Sullivan in March 2020.

Arkansas Senate District 21, Republican Primary[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dan Sullivan	5,493	58.6
	Republican	John R. Cooper	3,883	41.4

Sullivan went on to win the seat unopposed in November, and was seated in the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly.

References

1. Max Brantley (August 23, 2013). "Republican announces for Bookout Senate seat". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
2. "Max Brantley, "Paul Bookout resigns from state Senate", August 20, 2013". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
3. "Max Brantley, "Seven candidates file for state Senate seat from District 21", September 6, 2013". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
4. Associated Press (October 9, 2013). "GOP, Dems headed to runoff for Ark. Senate seat". Retrieved January 16, 2021 – via NewsBank.
5. Associated Press (November 14, 2013). "Cooper awaits opponent in special Ark. senate race". Retrieved January 16, 2021 – via NewsBank.
6. "Max Brantley, Two candidates announce for open Senate seat in Jonesboro, August 26, 2013". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
7. "Max Brantley, "The Republican victory in Jonesboro proves Obama's enduring value in Arkansas"". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
8. Associated Press (January 15, 2014). "GOP candidate takes special election in NE Ark". Retrieved January 16, 2021 – via NewsBank.
9. Moritz, Rob (January 15, 2014). "GOP: Win in Jonesboro bellwether for November general election". Pine Bluff Commercial. Pine Bluff. Retrieved January 16, 2021 – via NewsBank.
10. "State Senate 21 General Election January 14, 2014". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
11. Inman, Keith (October 24, 2019). "Ethics complaint against Cooper dismissed". The Sun. Jonesboro. OCLC 57673211. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
12. "Sullivan defeats Cooper in District 21 State Senate race". Jonesboro: KAIT. March 3, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.