Mary Pilcher-Cook
Mary Pilcher-Cook was a Republican member of the Kansas State Senate, representing District 10. She was first elected to the chamber in 2008. She resigned on January 16, 2020.
Before serving in the Kansas State Senate Pilcher-Cook served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2000 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2008.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Pilcher-Cook was assigned to the following committees:
- Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee
- Administrative Rules and Regulations Committee, Vice Chair
- Home and Community Based Services Oversight Committee
- Commerce Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Education Committee
- Ethics, Elections, and Local Government Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Public Health and Welfare Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:| Kansas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Commerce |
| • Ethics, Elections, and Local Government |
| • Judiciary |
| • Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Pilcher-Cook served on the following committees:
| Kansas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Home and Community Based Services Oversight, Chair |
| • Public Health and Welfare, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Commerce |
| • Assessment and Taxation |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Pilcher-Cook served on the following committees:
| Kansas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Public Health and Welfare, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Commerce |
| • Assessment and Taxation |
| • Organization, Calendar and Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Pilcher-Cook served on these committees:
| Kansas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Legislative Post Audit, Vice chair |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Public Health and Welfare |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Pilcher-Cook served on these committees:
| Kansas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Public Health and Welfare |
Issues
Medical marijuana
Pilcher-Cook, the chairwoman of the Kansas Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, has left untouched legislation that would establish rules and regulations for medical marijuana in Kansas. Pilcher-Cook opposed the medical marijuana legislation in 2013. Pilcher-Cook did not comment on whether or not she would allow a hearing on Senate Bill 9, called the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act. “I don’t think the Legislature would be for it. We have a very limited session. You have to look at the opportunity costs,” Pilcher-Cook said in an interview. The bill was originally submitted in January 2013.[1]
Campaign themes
What Sen. Pilcher-Cook supports according to her website[2]
- Increased visibility and reporting of education funding. Use more local options for education funding.
- Limited government
- Fiscal discipline
- Lower taxes
- Encouraging immigration, but penalties for illegal immigration
- Pro-life
Presidential preference
2012
Mary Pilcher-Cook endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 presidential election.[3]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills sponsored by this legislator. Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills sponsored by this person, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2016
- See also: Kansas State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Kansas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Mary Pilcher-Cook defeated Vicki Hiatt in the Kansas State Senate District 10 general election.[4][5]| Kansas State Senate, District 10 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mary Pilcher-Cook Incumbent |
51.31% | 18,673 | |
| Democratic | Vicki Hiatt | 48.69% | 17,722 | |
| Total Votes | 36,395 | |||
| Source: Kansas Secretary of State | ||||
Vicki Hiatt ran unopposed in the Kansas State Senate District 10 Democratic primary.[6][7]
| Kansas State Senate, District 10 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Vicki Hiatt (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Mary Pilcher-Cook ran unopposed in the Kansas State Senate District 10 Republican primary.[6][7]
| Kansas State Senate, District 10 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Mary Pilcher-Cook Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Kansas State Senate elections, 2012
Pilcher-Cook won re-election in 2012. She defeated Tom Wertz in the Republican primary on August 7 and defeated Mark J. Greene in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
| Kansas State Senate, District 10, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Mary Pilcher-Cook |
58.2% | 19,392 | |
| Democratic | Mark J. Greene Incumbent | 41.8% | 13,900 | |
| Total Votes | 33,292 | |||
| Kansas State Senate, District 10 Republican Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Mary Pilcher-Cook Incumbent |
64.3% | 4,514 |
| Tom Wertz | 35.7% | 2,509 |
| Total Votes | 7,023 | |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Pilcher-Cook was elected to the 10th District Seat in the Kansas State Senate, defeating Pete Roman (D).[10] Pilcher-Cook raised $98,984 for her campaign, while Roman raised $94,778.[11]
| Kansas State Senate, District 10 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Mary Pilcher (R)
|
21,637 | 54.9% | ||
| Pete Roman (D) | 17,713 | 45.1% | ||
Campaign donors
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.
| Mary Pilcher-Cook campaign contribution history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions |
| 2016 | Kansas State Senate, District 10 | ✔ | $112,909 |
| 2012 | Kansas State Senate, District 10 | ✔ | $105,969 |
| 2010 | Kansas State Senate, District 10 | $11,370 | |
| 2008 | Kansas State Senate, District 10 | ✔ | $98,984 |
| Grand total raised | $329,232 | ||
|
Source: Follow the Money |
|||
2016
Pilcher-Cook won re-election to the Kansas State Senate in 2016. During that election cycle, Pilcher-Cook raised a total of $112,909.| Kansas State Senate 2016 election - campaign contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Mary Pilcher-Cook's campaign in 2016 | ||||
| Kansas Chamber Of Commerce & Industry | $3,100 | |||
| Centene Corp | $3,000 | |||
| Koch Industries | $2,000 | |||
| Kroger Co | $2,000 | |||
| Kansas Association Of Realtors | $2,000 | |||
| Total raised in 2016 | $112,909 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2012
Pilcher-Cook won re-election to the Kansas State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Pilcher-Cook raised a total of $105,969.| Kansas State Senate 2012 election - campaign contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Mary Pilcher-Cook's campaign in 2012 | ||||
| Kansas Replublican Senatorial Comm | $3,500 | |||
| Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry | $3,062 | |||
| Kansas Republican Senatorial Cmte | $2,950 | |||
| Kansas Physical Therapy Association | $2,000 | |||
| Egan, Donna R & Michael T | $2,000 | |||
| Total raised in 2012 | $105,969 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2010
Pilcher-Cook was not up for election to the Kansas State Senate in 2010. During that election cycle, Pilcher-Cook raised a total of $11,370.| Kansas State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Mary Pilcher-Cook's campaign in 2010 | ||||
| Lewis, John | $1,000 | |||
| Flamethrowers BBQ | $750 | |||
| Kansas Medical Society | $500 | |||
| Farmers Insurance Group | $500 | |||
| Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation | $500 | |||
| Total Raised in 2010 | $11,370 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2008
Pilcher-Cook won election to the Kansas State Senate in 2008. During that election cycle, Pilcher-Cook raised a total of $98,984.| Kansas State Senate 2008 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Mary Pilcher-Cook's campaign in 2008 | ||||
| Kansas Republican Party | $3,000 | |||
| Kansas Republican Senatorial Committee | $2,800 | |||
| Crabtree, Richard and Randi | $2,000 | |||
| Clark, Steve and Becky | $2,000 | |||
| Total Raised in 2008 | $98,984 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
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 Kansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 13 to May 21. A special session convened from June 3 to June 4.
- Kansas AFL-CIO: House
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their support for bills that the organization lists as promoting "individual liberty, limited government, free markets and student-focused education."
- Legislators are scored by the MainStream Coalition on whether they voted with the moderate position on selected bills.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through May 29.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 8 through April 7.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 through June 26.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 11 through June 1. A special session was held from June 23 to June 24 over education funding.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 12 through June 12.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 13 through May 30.
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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 Kansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 20.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Pilcher-Cook and her husband, Donald, have five children.[12]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Mary + Pilcher-Cook + Kansas + Senate
See also
- Kansas State Senate
- Senate Committees
- Joint Committees
- Kansas state legislative districts
- Kansas State Legislature
External links
- Official Website
- Sen. Pilcher-Cook's website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000
Footnotes
- ↑ WatchDog.org, "Kansas senator refuses to address hearing for medical marijuana bill," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Mary Pilcher-Cook Issues
- ↑ Rick Santorum, "Kansas Conservative Leaders Unite Behind Rick Santorum," March 9, 2012
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed August 23, 2016
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election official results," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "2016 Official Kansas Primary Election Results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed March 31, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2008 General Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ District 10 Follow the Money, "Kansas 2008 - General Election Results," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed June 2, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nick Jordan |
Kansas State Senate District 10 2009–2020 |
Succeeded by Mike Thompson (Kansas) |
