John Coker (Alabama)

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

John Coker

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Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 24, 2022

Education

Other

Alabama Fire College, 2001

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1976 - 1977

Personal

Birthplace

La Fayette, Ala.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Pastor

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

John Coker (Republican Party) ran for election to the Alabama State Senate to represent District 13. He lost in the Republican primary on May 24, 2022.

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

Biography

John Coker was born in La Fayette, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1977. He graduated from the Alabama Fire College in 2001. His career experience includes working as a pastor.

Elections

2022

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Alabama State Senate District 13

Incumbent Randy Price won election in the general election for Alabama State Senate District 13 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Price (R)	98.2	31,759
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	597

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 32,356
= 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 Alabama State Senate District 13

Incumbent Randy Price defeated John Coker in the Republican primary for Alabama State Senate District 13 on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Price	78.7	14,888
	Submit photo	John Coker	21.3	4,039

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,927
= 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.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Coker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Coker'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 Christian, Conservative, Constitutionalist. I am for smaller government, and believe "We the People" have the final say. I am pro life, pro family, and pro 2nd amendment. I am convinced if we shrink government, along with all it's wasted funds, we can lower taxes and balance this out of control debt. I have a wonderful wife that works for the school system. We have six children and eighteen grandchildren. My reasoning for running for senate is to help make a better future for my family and yours by getting back to the values our country was founded on. I am a fighter. I do not compromise when it comes to my convictions. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, there is no middle ground.

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 work for you.
• Together we can stop the dangerous agenda that is aimed at our children.
• I believe we need God back in our schools, back in our homes, and back into our lives.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We need to use old fashion common since when it comes to our children's education, not common core. We also need to have term limits for legislators. No more career politicians. It is time to return the power to the people before those who think they are in power destroy our great state, and our country.

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

Jesus. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Holy Bible. If you live by that, it will carry you through anything.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Loyalty, And uphold the Constitution of the state, as well as the United States.

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

Honesty, Integrity, and not afraid of a challenge.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To serve the people they represent with integrity. To always tell the truth. And to remember we work for the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That my grandchildren would know I fought for their future.

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

President Kennedy was shot. It was November 22nd, 1963. I was 4.

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

I had three. Pumping gas, cutting grass, and bagging groceries. 2 years

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bible. It holds the best history accounts, as well as the future accounts.

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

Superman

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

I do not no the name of it but my grand daughter was singing it.

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

Watching people suffer and not being able to do enough to help.

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

Having a clear understanding of where you stand on issues. Finding common ground when possible.

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

Turning everything around that has been taken in the wrong direction for years. Work to make a better life for all people regardless of race, class, etc.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Unicameral would be great if you had like minded people that held the same values as the people they serve. Since that is virtually impossible, we need the two party system to hold each other in check.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do believe they need to have a working knowledge of government as we now have in place. Without that they would be very unpreductive.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. The very first thing I would do would be to find those whom I could work with on like ideas. Then I would find those who would have productive dialog.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Redistricting only works if it is done fairly on demographics which include race, class, and population.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Any that would put me in a better position to help our children.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

At this point no. I want to concentrate on one term, and one position at a time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have been a first responder most of my life. The one thing I have learned more than anything is I truly enjoy serving others.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Not much of a joker.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes. If the case arises, they should be able to intact a special session for emergencies.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Not when it comes to compromising principles.

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.

See also

2022 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Candidate

Alabama State Senate District 13

Website

Personal

Facebook

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Alabama State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Steve Livingston

Minority Leader:Bobby Singleton

Senators

District 1

Tim Melson (R)

District 2

Tom Butler (R)

District 3

Arthur Orr (R)

District 4

Garlan Gudger (R)

District 5

Matt Woods (R)

District 6

Larry Stutts (R)

District 7

Sam Givhan (R)

District 8

Steve Livingston (R)

District 9

Wes Kitchens (R)

District 10

Andrew Jones (R)

District 11

Lance Bell (R)

District 12

Keith Kelley (R)

District 13

Randy Price (R)

District 14

April Weaver (R)

District 15

Dan Roberts (R)

District 16

J.T. Waggoner (R)

District 17

Shay Shelnutt (R)

District 18

Rodger Smitherman (D)

District 19

Merika Coleman (D)

District 20

Linda Coleman-Madison (D)

District 21

Gerald Allen (R)

District 22

Greg Albritton (R)

District 23

Robert Stewart (D)

District 24

Bobby Singleton (D)

District 25

Will Barfoot (R)

District 26

Kirk Hatcher (D)

District 27

Jay Hovey (R)

District 28

Billy Beasley (D)

District 29

Donnie Chesteen (R)

District 30

Clyde Chambliss (R)

District 31

Josh Carnley (R)

District 32

Chris Elliott (R)

District 33

Vivian Figures (D)

District 34

Jack Williams (R)

District 35

David Sessions (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (8)