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Barbara Cooper
Barbara Cooper (Democratic Party) was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 86. She assumed office in 1996. She left office on October 25, 2022.
Cooper (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 86. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Cooper died on October 25, 2022.[1][2]
Biography
Cooper earned her B.S. in education from Tennessee State University in 1950. She went on to receive her M.S. from Tennessee State University in 1963. Cooper later received a Ph.D. in Religious Philosophy in Christian Psychology from Jacksonville Theological Seminary in 1999. In 1970, Cooper was a community relation specialist for Southwest Community College. She then worked as an instructor for Southwest Tennessee Community College from 1980 to 1986. She was a parent coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis City Schools in 1986 and from 1988 to 1994.
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Cooper was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- State Government Committee
- Naming and Designating Committee
2019-2020
Cooper was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Local Government |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Cooper served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Finance, Ways, and Means |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Cooper served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Finance, Ways, and Means |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Cooper served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Government Operations |
| • Government Operations |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Cooper served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Government Operations |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated Michael Porter in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Barbara Cooper (D) | 73.1 | 8,006 |
| Michael Porter (Independent) | 26.9 | 2,944 | ||
| Total votes: 10,950 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated Will Richardson in the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Cooper | 79.0 | 5,233 |
 | Will Richardson | 21.0 | 1,395 | |
| Total votes: 6,628 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brandon Morris (D)
- Dominique Frost (D)
2020
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated Rob White in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Cooper (D) | 72.7 | 15,803 |
 | Rob White (R) | 27.3 | 5,946 | |
| Total votes: 21,749 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated Dominique Frost, Joann Wooten-Lewis, and Austin Crowder in the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Cooper | 66.3 | 3,936 |
 | Dominique Frost | 26.0 | 1,542 | |
| Joann Wooten-Lewis | 5.4 | 319 | ||
| Austin Crowder | 2.4 | 140 | ||
| Total votes: 5,937 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Rob White advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob White | 100.0 | 1,433 |
| Total votes: 1,433 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2018
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper won election in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Cooper (D) | 100.0 | 13,865 |
| Total votes: 13,865 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated Amber Huett-Garcia and Jesse Kirk Jeff in the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Cooper | 78.0 | 5,149 |
| Amber Huett-Garcia | 18.1 | 1,196 | ||
 | Jesse Kirk Jeff | 3.9 | 260 | |
| Total votes: 6,605 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.
Incumbent Barbara Cooper defeated George T. Edwards in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 general election.[3][4]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 86 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Barbara Cooper Incumbent |
73.31% | 14,945 | |
| Republican | George T. Edwards | 26.69% | 5,442 | |
| Total Votes | 20,387 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Barbara Cooper ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 86 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Barbara Cooper Incumbent (unopposed) | |
George T. Edwards defeated Tina McElravey in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 Republican primary.[5][6]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 86 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | George T. Edwards |
55.56% | 510 | |
| Republican | Tina McElravey | 44.44% | 408 | |
| Total Votes | 918 | |||
2014
Elections for 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Incumbent Barbara Cooper was unopposed in the Democratic primary. George T. Edwards was unopposed in the Republican primary. Cooper defeated Edwards in the general election.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara Cooper Incumbent |
70.9% | 7,595 | |
| Republican | George T. Edwards, III | 29.1% | 3,115 | |
| Total Votes | 10,710 | |||
2012
Cooper won re-election in the 2012 election for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 86. Cooper ran unopposed in the August 2 primary election and defeated George T. Edwards (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara Cooper Incumbent |
76% | 16,619 | |
| Republican | George Edwards | 24% | 5,244 | |
| Total Votes | 21,863 | |||
2010
Cooper ran for re-election to the 86th District seat in 2010. She was unopposed in the August 5 primary.[11] She defeated Republican Harold M. Baker in the general election on November 2, 2010.[12]
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Cooper won re-election to the 86th District Seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, defeating opponent Jim Ryal (D).[13]
Cooper raised $24,182 for her campaign while Edwards raised $0.[14]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 86 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Barbara Cooper (D)
|
14,592 | |||
| George Edwards III (R) | 4,233 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Barbara Cooper did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Barbara Cooper did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 28.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on the business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 5.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 19.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly was in session January 8 through May 2.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, second session, was in session January 9 to April 27.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, first session, was in session January 10 to May 10.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 12 through April 22
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 13 through April 22.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 14 to April 18.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 8 to April 19.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 10 through May 1.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 11 to May 21.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Cooper had three children and resided in Memphis, Tennessee.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Oldest Tennessee Lawmaker, Rep. Barbara Cooper, Dies at 93," October 26, 2022
- ↑ E.H. Ford Mortuary, "State Representative Barbara Ward Cooper," October 26, 2022
- ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee House of Representatives," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 7, 2014 Election Results," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Petitions Filed for State Senate and State House of Representatives," accessed April 5, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2012 List of Candidates," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Department of State, "Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Primary Election Official Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2008 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "General Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee House of Representatives District 86 1996-2022 |
Succeeded by Justin Pearson (D) |
