David Cooper

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

David Cooper

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 16, 2023

Education

Associate

American National University, 2013

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army National Guard

Personal

Birthplace

Cynthiana, Ky.

Religion

Church of Christ

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

David Cooper (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Kentucky. He lost in the Republican primary on May 16, 2023.

Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Cooper was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Cooper served in the Kentucky Army National Guard. He earned an associate degree from American National University in 2013.

Elections

2023

See also: Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2023

General election

General election for Governor of Kentucky

Incumbent Andy Beshear defeated Daniel Cameron and Brian Fishback in the general election for Governor of Kentucky on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Beshear (D)	52.5	694,482
		Daniel Cameron (R)	47.5	627,457
	Submit photo	Brian Fishback (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	83

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,322,022
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Kentucky

Incumbent Andy Beshear defeated Geoff M. Young and Peppy Martin in the Democratic primary for Governor of Kentucky on May 16, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Beshear	91.3	176,589
		Geoff M. Young	5.1	9,865
		Peppy Martin	3.6	6,913

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 193,367
= 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.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Kentucky

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Kentucky on May 16, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Cameron	47.7	144,576
		Ryan Quarles	21.7	65,718
		Kelly Knight Craft	17.2	52,170
		Eric Deters	5.8	17,464
		Mike Harmon	2.6	7,797
		Alan Keck	2.4	7,317
		David Cooper	0.8	2,282
		Jacob Clark	0.6	1,900
		Robbie Smith	0.5	1,388
		Bob DeVore	0.3	931
	Submit photo	Johnny Ray Rice	0.2	726
	Submit photo	Denny Ormerod	0.2	696

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 302,965
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Savannah Maddox (R)

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

David Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cooper's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a lifelong Christian, a 24 year blue collar worker, and a 22 year combat veteran serving in the KY Army National Guard since I was 17. I am the husband to Danielle Cooper of 14 years and the father to two beautiful little girls Zoey (13) and Kyleigh (9). I have been a leader in the guard for 20 of those years. I currently work at Veolia and just celebrated 10 years with them. I am currently working a third job as a pool service tech for Don Marcum Pool Care. I have deployed three times in my career; once on Operation Noble Eagle (2002-2003), once on Operation Enduring Freedom (2008-2009) where i was blown up four times, and the most recent Operation Southern Guardian (2020) along the Mexico and U.S. border in Texas. I wish to continue to serve Kentucky off the battlefield as the 64th Governor.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am center right on the political scale and will be the most transparent bipartisan administration in Frankfort.
• I know the struggles of being a blue collar worker and know the frustrations of career politicians taking care of themselves over the state and its people.
• I have already served for 22 years and continue to serve the state in the KY Army National Guard as a leader and have the core values of what it takes to be a governor the people can be proud of.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The world is not black and white and there needs to be a governor who can expertly navigate the grey areas to bring peace and unity back to Kentucky. Abortion is a key issue that has the state and the nation divided. I believe there should be exceptions to the law, contraceptive NOT being one of them.

Another policy I am passionate about is bringing more income into the state and preventing the pension fund from ever being dipped into again.

Lastly, our children are the future and I plan to promote trade schools, creating a mandatory life skills class for high schoolers, and an all around environment free from bullying, sexual harassment, and mental stability.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have never met my biological father and my grandfather died when I was 16. I had a stepfather for several years but we never got close until after he and my mom separated. So, growing up I played a lot of video games and watched anime and therefore the people I looked up to and wanted to be like most were fictional heros. Goku, Link, Mario, and Master Chief always saved the day and people of all races and ages love these fictional characters and I don't necessarily want to be a hero, I just want to defeat whatever is keeping the world apart and bring everyone back together again. I know it sounds childish but really I just want to help get morale back up and everyone to look after each other and take care of one another and build each other up instead of tearing each other down. I have always been a morale sergeant in the guard and if even one of my troops is not having a good time, I always try to be the leader to help get them in a better place or state of mind.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage

What legacy would you like to leave?

If I couldn't get everything accomplished that I would like to get done, I would at least like to leave the state in a better position than what I received it in. Either a nice clean slate ready for anything, or a sturdy foundation ready for the next governor to add on to.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I know there was plenty before, but really the most absolute memorable one was 9/11. I was 18 years old at Fort Leonardwood, MO. I was in AIT (Advanced Individual Training) learning to drive a dump truck as a heavy equipment operator. We were getting it ready for the days activities when the drill sergeant yelled for everyone to shut the engines off, lock them up and get inside the building as fast as humanly possible.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was a stock boy at a gas station. From there I went on to join the Kentucky Army National Guard. I continued to work at the armory off and on and go to as many military schools as I could to become a valuable asset to my unit. I worked as a pool service tech, a server at Applebee's for a few months, then was a security guard for the hit tv show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I was then deployed to Afghanistan and came home to a security job for G4S and then finally got my job at what was first DuPont but has since changed to Veolia.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Really, any book on Greek mythology

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Goku. hands down.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Dropkick Murphy's Cadence to Arms

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Self diagnosed minor OCD. There's a place for everything and everything has its place. I majority of the time cannot trust someone to do a task to my standard and will typically do it myself. So short answer, delegation.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

This means that the governor is the leader of the state and as a leader they should set the example of how all elected officials regardless of party should act. They should have a concrete set of values such as the military has taught me; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. They should never forget that they are a servant of the state and its people. The people don't work for them, they work for the people.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

Taking care of the citizens and doing whatever I can to ease any burdens they might currently be having whether it be current issues and working with the legislative branch to pass laws or working with local and state officials during a state emergency. I also believe when Kentuckians do something above and beyond they should be recognized whether it be breaking a sports record or literally helping in their neighborhood being the go to person.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

I believe the governor should have the final say but they should work with the legislative branch to create a truly unique budget that would be the most beneficial to the citizens and state. If that means bringing in financial professionals or other professionals for budgeting appraisals, all avenues should be used to get the best budget out in a timely manner. There is not one person who knows everything and is a stronger person for asking for help when needed.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

I would only use this power if I felt the bill was not benefical to the state or its citizens. I would also veto a bill if it has a rider and stick to only single-subject bills.

If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?

It does, again, to protect the citizens and the state from outrageous laws.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A bipartisan transparent relationship with the values I mentioned above and the elected officials never forgetting they work for the citizens, the citizens don't work for them.

What do you love most about your state?

I love how my state has mountains, forests, caves, and lakes. We are the official home of bourbon and horse racing (the Kentucky Derby). Many, the majority of the people here are good, honest, hard working folks who will give the shirt right off their back to someone in need.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our children's future, the pension, and bringing money to the state.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Two whales are in a bar. One whale says to the other whale eeeeeeeeeeeeee ooooooooo rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr uuuuuugggggghhhhh aaaaaaaaa. The other whale says "Steve, go home, you're drunk".

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Cooper's campaign website stated the following:

“	Where I Stand On The Issues Policy is where the rubber meets the road. I want to represent the interests of Kentucky residents and here are some of the values and policies that are important to me. Abortion The world is ever-changing. I am pro life. However, in the unfortunate scenario of rape, incest, or a dangerous pregnancy that could possibly kill the mother, there needs to be another alternative. Clearly strict guidelines and deadlines of course, but as a type of birth control, absolutely not. 2nd Amendment If a person can afford an A10 Warthog along with a pilots fee, fuel, ammo, guns, and range time, there should be no law restricting that individual from owning everything they can afford. Simple background checks to ensure an individual is not a felon and of sound mind (mentally stable meaning the person has not been flagged by a doctor as dangerous to themselves or others) is as far as I am comfortable with regarding any type of restrictions and checks. Taxes and Spending If we can’t afford it, the answer is not to buy it or to charge it on the state credit card. , We definitely should NOT be raising taxes and making the citizens pay for it; the answer is obviously not to purchase or spend with funds that aren’t there. Practicing what we teach our kids and saving money is clearly what needs to happen in Frankfort. How I Plan to Bring Income Into the State Kentucky has lost two of its most revenue producing commodities, since tobacco and coal are not as much a need in the world.. I believe with the proper research, rules, and guidance, we can make Kentucky more successful than ever before with casinos, medical marijuana, and my personal favorite, kenaf (a type of plant that has many, many uses). The downsizing of Fort Knox and the fact of it not being one of the centers of military might as it was in the past, has also crippled a part of the state and I plan on working with military counterparts to bring Fort Knox back to its former glory. Education and Schools Including Sports Quality teaching in our schools is a high priority. I want to ensure our kids have safe transportation, top of the line meals, mental stability that is free of the fear of bullies or sexual harassment from school officials or other students. I also want to promote trade schools. Choosing a trade after high school should be celebrated as much as a senior committing to a college athletic team. Trade workers are alarmingly scarce and teaching our kids that college is the only path after high school is the wrong answer. Lastly, I want to create a mandatory Life skills class for high schoolers that teaches how to balance a checking account, how to save for retirement, and how to appropriately invest in big purchases like a car or home. Today’s students rarely understand practical skills like change a tire and cooking unless it’s Ramen noodles, pizza rolls or ordering from a food delivery service. There are two genders, male and female. Male born athletes turned female will have no place in Kentucky’s female sports. Trans women shattering women’s records in women’s sports is not fair to biological women and I would be open to helping create a transgender sports group as an alternate course of action. Minimum Wage A blanket minimum wage for the state is not an option. Some parts of Kentucky may be sufficient with a $10 minimum wage, while other parts require a $15 minimum wage. My proposition would be to base minimum wage on cost of living in districts or possibly creating a different map specific to address this concern.	”
—David Cooper's campaign website (2023)

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2023 Elections

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Candidate

Governor of Kentucky

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