Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Martin Cowen

From Ballotpedia
(Redirected from Martin L. Cowen)
Jump to: navigation, search
BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
Ballotpedia does not currently cover this office or maintain this page. Please contact us with any updates.
Martin Cowen
Image of Martin Cowen
Prior offices
Clayton County Probate Court

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Georgia, 1972

Law

University of Georgia School of Law, 1975

Personal
Birthplace
Charlottesville, Va.
Religion
Eudaimonist
Profession
Lawyer
Contact

Martin Cowen was a judge of the Clayton County Probate Court in Georgia. He assumed office in 2013. He left office in 2015.

Cowen (Libertarian Party) ran for election for Attorney General of Georgia. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

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

Cowen was an associate judge of the Clayton County Probate Court in Georgia from 2013 to 2015.[1]

Biography

Martin Cowen was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in 1972 and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975. Cowen's professional experience includes practicing law since 1975. His organizational affiliations include the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and the Board of Directors for Fellowship of Reason.[2][3]

Elections

2022

See also: Georgia Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Georgia

Incumbent Chris Carr defeated Jen Jordan and Martin Cowen in the general election for Attorney General of Georgia on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Chris Carr
Chris Carr (R) Candidate Connection
 
51.9
 
2,032,500
Image of Jen Jordan
Jen Jordan (D)
 
46.6
 
1,826,437
Image of Martin Cowen
Martin Cowen (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.5
 
60,107

Total votes: 3,919,044
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Georgia

Jen Jordan defeated Christian Wise Smith in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Georgia on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jen Jordan
Jen Jordan
 
77.6
 
533,266
Image of Christian Wise Smith
Christian Wise Smith
 
22.4
 
153,928

Total votes: 687,194
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Georgia

Incumbent Chris Carr defeated John Gordon in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Georgia on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Chris Carr
Chris Carr Candidate Connection
 
73.7
 
834,383
Image of John Gordon
John Gordon Candidate Connection
 
26.3
 
297,037

Total votes: 1,131,420
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.

2020

See also: Georgia's 13th Congressional District election, 2020

Georgia's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)

Georgia's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Georgia District 13

Incumbent David Scott defeated Becky E. Hites and Martin Cowen in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Scott
David Scott (D)
 
77.4
 
279,045
Image of Becky E. Hites
Becky E. Hites (R) Candidate Connection
 
22.6
 
81,476
Image of Martin Cowen
Martin Cowen (L) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
0

Total votes: 360,521
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13

Incumbent David Scott defeated Keisha Sean Waites, Michael Owens, and Jannquell Peters in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Scott
David Scott
 
52.9
 
77,735
Image of Keisha Sean Waites
Keisha Sean Waites
 
25.5
 
37,447
Image of Michael Owens
Michael Owens
 
13.2
 
19,415
Image of Jannquell Peters
Jannquell Peters Candidate Connection
 
8.4
 
12,308

Total votes: 146,905
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 U.S. House Georgia District 13

Becky E. Hites defeated Caesar Gonzales in the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Becky E. Hites
Becky E. Hites Candidate Connection
 
68.6
 
20,076
Image of Caesar Gonzales
Caesar Gonzales Candidate Connection
 
31.4
 
9,170

Total votes: 29,246
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.

2018

See also: Georgia's 13th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Georgia District 13

Incumbent David Scott defeated David Callahan in the general election for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Scott
David Scott (D)
 
76.2
 
223,157
Image of David Callahan
David Callahan (R)
 
23.8
 
69,760
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
93

Total votes: 293,010
(100.00% precincts reporting)
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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13

Incumbent David Scott advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Scott
David Scott
 
100.0
 
56,216

Total votes: 56,216
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 U.S. House Georgia District 13

David Callahan defeated Femi Akinkugbe in the Republican primary for U.S. House Georgia District 13 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Callahan
David Callahan
 
93.0
 
17,475
Femi Akinkugbe
 
7.0
 
1,315

Total votes: 18,790
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Martin Cowen attended the 1972 Georgia Libertarian State Party Convention. Freedom is the protection of private property rights by the rule of law. As Georgia Attorney General, unlike my opponents, I understand the meaning of Freedom and I will bring that understanding to the offic.e
  • No knock warrants are intolerable.
  • Qualified immunity should be abolished.
  • I support "peace" officers. I oppose "RoboCops."
As Georgia Attorney General I am governed by statutes and the Georgia Constitution. BUT ... I shall exercise my discretion as the state's chief prosecutor in the selection of my cases!
As the lawyer for the state, its officers, and agencies, I anticipate that I might influence their behavior and make them more "freedom" friendly.
As the lawyer for important public officials, I hope to persuade them to protect the freedoms of the people.
Human trafficking should be suppressed. I hope to establish stations in the Atlanta Airport at the centers of the concourses (A-E) with counselors, Assistant Attorneys General, and law enforcement to receive and protect young people who re being trafficed.
Yes. If my office, Georgia Attorney General, is not suing the federal government EVERY DAY, I shall have been a failure.
Congressman Ron Paul, a hero of the Liberty movement.
I am a Libertarian. Don't hurt people. Don't take their stuff.
restoring freedom to America
Clerk for a Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. One year.
Plato's "Republic." The origin of Western Philosophy.
Renee Fleming Song to the Moon Rusalka Met Opera
My disabled autistic adult son. I hope to live long so that I might care for him until his old age.

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.

2020

Candidate Connection

Martin Cowen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cowen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Stopping undeclared wars

Reducing spending

Privatize health care
Commitment to freedom which means the protection of private property by the rule of law
Educating the public about the proper role of the federal government: national defense. State governments are responsible for the courts and police.
Reducing the number of undeclared wars by one. Stopping the annual increase in federal spending.
Thanksgiving. The great food.
Plato's Republic. The root of all political science.
Hallelujah as performed by YouTube guitarist Stephanie Jones.
It's a mess. No good ideas other than the current system.
No, too short. One can never stop running for office.

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.

Note: Cowen submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on September 23, 2019.

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Martin Cowen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cowen's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Stopping undeclared wars Reducing spending Privatize health care

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

undeclared war

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

Congressman Ron Paul

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

My own book: Fabian Libertarianism: 100 Years to Freedom

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

Commitment to freedom which means the protection of private property by the rule of law

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

47 years as a Libertarian

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

Educating the public about the proper role of the federal government: national defense. State governments are responsible for the courts and police.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Reducing the number of undeclared wars by one. Stopping the annual increase in federal spending.

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

Assassination of JFK.

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

Newspaper delivery (on a bicycle)

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Thanksgiving. The great food.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Plato's Republic. The root of all political science.

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

John Galt of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My Ancient Greek study books.

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

Hallelujah as performed by YouTube guitarist Stephanie Jones.

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

My weight.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

It's a mess. No good ideas other than the current system.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The "People's House."

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our unwillingness to give up Empire.

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

They will not allow a Libertarian on any committees.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No, too short. One can never stop running for office.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support them.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Congressman Ron Paul.

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.

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Candidate Connection

Martin Cowen participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on June 1, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Martin Cowen's responses follow below.[4]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1. No troupes be deployed overseas in combat missions without a Congressional Declaration of War
2. Cut Federal Spending
3. Abolish the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and give veterans the Congressional Health Plan[5][6]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Only Declared War
Cut Federal Spending drastically
Eliminate Federal Student Loan Program and make existing student loan debt bankruptableCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[6]

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Martin Cowen answered the following:

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

Form U.S. Representative Ron Paul[6]
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?
Fabian Libertarianism: 100 Years to Freedom, by Martin Cowen[6]
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Courage, integrity, honesty, a knowledge of history and philosophy[6]
What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?
Courage, integrity, honesty, a knowledge of history and philosophy[6]
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To Declare War or NOT.[6]
What legacy would you like to leave?
To reduce the number of foreign wars by even just one![6]
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at that time?
JKF assassinated when I was 12 years old.[6]
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Newspaper boy.[6]
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving.[6]
What is your favorite book? Why?
Plato's Republic. I love philosophy and this is the root of political philosophy.[6]
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
John Galt[6]
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My books.[6]
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Despacito[6]
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My weight[6]
What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
The sole power, along with the US Senate, to Declare War. Congress is not presently performing its only legitimate function.[6]
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes.[6]
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
To stop being the World's policeman; to get out of the business of Empire.[6]
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I will not be allowed on a committee as a Libertarian.[6]
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
No.[6]
What are your thoughts on term limits?
I believe in Term Limits.[6]
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Geographic boundaries and/or simple geometric shapes.[6]
Both sitting representatives 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?
A family of three is sitting in their yard. My colleague and I, who are seeking signatures on our ballot access petitions, approach. The mom has $300,000 in student debt. The daughter, who is an adult living at home, has $70,000. Neither can pay their student debt. The collection agency is seeking $4,000 per month from mom who is unemployed based upon the fact that her husband is employed. She says: "It's not his debt." Agency says: "Divorce him." I would completely abolish the Federal Student Loan program and make existing debt bankruptable as all other consumer debt.[6]

Ballotpedia biographical submission form

The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:

What is your political philosophy?

Libertarians are famous for saying: "Don't hurt people. Don't take their stuff." I am running for the U.S. House of Representatives. In Libertarian political theory, the only function of the Federal Government is National Defense. My campaign is focused on insisting that Congress exercise its US Constitution Art. I, Sec. 8, power to declare war. No more wars without a formal declaration of war.[6]

—Martin L. Cowen[3]

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Council of Probate Court Judges, "Directory of Judges," accessed February 5, 2015
  2. Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on June 1, 2018
  3. 3.0 3.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 6, 2022
  4. Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
  5. Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Martin Cowen's responses," June 1, 2018
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.