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Joni Cochran

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Joni Cochran
Image of Joni Cochran

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Louisville, 1993

Graduate

Strayer University, 2009

Other

Center for Guided Montessori Studies, 2021

Personal
Birthplace
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Religion
Spiritual, Not Religious
Profession
Retired
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Campaign TikTok

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Joni Cochran (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 46. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Cochran completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Joni Cochran was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Cochran earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville in 1993 and a graduate degree from Strayer University in 2009. She also graduated from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2021. Cochran has been affiliated with the Wilson County Democratic Party, Wilson County Democratic Women, the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, and the National Women's Political Caucus.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent Clark Boyd defeated Joni Cochran in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 46 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Clark Boyd
Clark Boyd (R)
 
74.9
 
28,319
Image of Joni Cochran
Joni Cochran (D) Candidate Connection
 
25.1
 
9,508

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 37,827
Candidate Connection = 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 46

Joni Cochran advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 46 on August 1, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joni Cochran
Joni Cochran Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,260

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,260
Candidate Connection = 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 46

Incumbent Clark Boyd advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 46 on August 1, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Clark Boyd
Clark Boyd
 
100.0
 
4,841

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,841
Candidate Connection = 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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cochran in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Joni Cochran completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cochran's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I often describe myself as a 63-year-old grandmother with the energy of someone half my age! I am at a point in my life in which public service feels right. I have the experience, insight, and passion to make positive changes for others.

I graduated with honors from the University of Louisville in 1993. I earned my MBA at Strayer University in 2009. I have over 35 years of awarded business management and leadership experience in retail tax and as a franchisee plus 4 years teaching experience as a Montessori trained Pre-K teacher.

I am a 2013 Graduate and former Board Member of Leadership Wilson, former Ambassador and Board Member of the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce, former Community Board Member of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville Wilson Division, and former Volunteer Tutor at The Adult Learning Center in Lebanon.

Currently, I serve as Vice-Chair of the Wilson County Democratic Party and as Treasurer of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women. I am the Immediate Past Chair of the Wilson County Democratic Women.
  • Public education is the key to a well-functioning society and a well-functioning democracy.
  • As a responsible gun owner and the grandmother of a fourth grader, I fully support the 2nd Amendment and the rights it conveys to us as citizens of the United States, while also being concerned about her safety in school and as well as our safety just living our lives.
  • We must fight to protect our freedoms by empowering the citizens of Tennessee and ensuring that everyone is treated equally. When you are empowered, you are not afraid to speak up for yourself. When you are empowered, people give you respect.
I am passioinate about the following four issues.

First: Fully fund public education and eliminate school vouchers from our vocabulary. Recognize teachers’ value to our society and pay them the premium salary they deserve.

Second: Pass legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.

Third: Restore women’s right to self-determination without any limitations on their reproductive health or anything else, and stop demonizing the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.

Fourth: Repeal the taxes we pay through raising our families and living our lives and require billionaire corporations to share the riches we made possible for them to earn. Labor is the key to generating wealth – we must fully reap the rewards our labor produces.
I admired Pat Summitt. I never got the chance to meet her, but I avidly watched the Lady Vols play whenever I could. I was not only interested in watching the team win, but I marveled at how Coach Summitt managed the team. She was fierce and held her players to a high standard, but they loved her. Pat Summitt epitomized what it means to be a leader, a teacher, a mentor. She lifted up young women and taught them how to be confident, how to win, how to achieve, and how to demand respect.
The Hunt for Red October tells a story about a submarine captain who does the right thing at great risk to himself.
I think an elected official who is properly oriented to the job asks two questions: "What do you need. How can I help."
I take responsibility seriously, and I understand being accountable to the people who vote for me and to the people who didn't vote for me. I play fair, but I play strategically. I have a stellar work ethic. I understand that serving people is the reason for holding the office in the first place.
I think the core responsibilities for a representative in the Tennessee House include holding regular town hall meetings in the district, reading and understanding every bill she votes on, and providing regular feedback to the district.
I would like to be known for fully funding public education, returning power to working families and individuals, reducing the poverty rate, and for returning women to equal citizens.
I watched the moon landing on television in 1969. I was 8 years old.
My very first W-2 job was working as a sales clerk at the base exchange at Mitchell Field. The job was a temporary holiday position, so I only held it for a couple of weeks. I ran the cash register selling Christmas trees.
Illusions, by Richard Bach. I find something useful and enlightening in it every time I read it.
I strive to be the best version of myself in everything I do.
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"
N/A
Ideally, the governor sets the vision and the legislature carries out the vision. The governor and the legislature should work closely together to do the work the voters elected them to do.
I think the greatest challenges Tennessee faces involve resisting fascistic authoritarianism, voter apathy, and the out-sized influence that the monied class wields over politicians.
I think prior experience is helpful but not necessary.
I do believe it is beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. The spirit of compromise and public service cannot be fulfilled if the decision-makers do not communicate with each other.
There is no one in particular. I try to take the best lesson I can from all of them.
Not at this time.
I heard a story from a woman who described how systemic racism impacted her life growing up. I was struck by how unjust her experience was, and I want to be sure that it never happens again.
Can't think of one.
Yes, I think overseeing the grant and use of emergency powers in within the legislature's purview.
Yes, I think it is important for everyone to have a say in the laws that govern them and in the policies that guide decision-making. All points of view should be considered and reflected in legislation at every level of government.
I would introduce a bill to eliminate school vouchers and fully fund public education so that our children stop having to beg for money for their classrooms.
Wilson County Young Democrats
ChangeTN
I am interested in Education, Civil Justice, Business & Industry, and Public Health.

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 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.

Joni Cochran campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Tennessee House of Representatives District 46Lost general$61,560 $55,109
Grand total$61,560 $55,109
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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External links

Candidate

Tennessee House of Representatives District 46
  • Website
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    		•

    Personal

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    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 28, 2024


    Current members of the Tennessee House of Representatives
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