Kelly Cooper (Arizona)
Kelly Cooper (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Arizona's 4th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Kelly Cooper was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 1997. Cooper's career experience includes working as an entrepreneur and owner of three restaurants.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2024
Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (July 30 Republican primary)
Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (July 30 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Incumbent Greg Stanton defeated Kelly Cooper and Vincent Beck-Jones in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Stanton (D) | 52.7 | 176,428 | |
| Kelly Cooper (R) | 45.5 | 152,052 | ||
| Vincent Beck-Jones (G) | 1.8 | 6,065 | ||
| Total votes: 334,545 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Incumbent Greg Stanton advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Stanton | 100.0 | 49,178 | |
| Total votes: 49,178 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Kelly Cooper defeated Zuhdi Jasser, Dave Giles, and Jerone Davison in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kelly Cooper | 32.0 | 18,902 | |
| Zuhdi Jasser | 27.0 | 15,929 | ||
| Dave Giles | 23.0 | 13,575 | ||
| Jerone Davison | 18.1 | 10,664 | ||
| Total votes: 59,070 | ||||
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Green primary election
Green primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Vincent Beck-Jones advanced from the Green primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on July 30, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Vincent Beck-Jones (Write-in) | 100.0 | 31 | |
| Total votes: 31 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tre Rook (G)
Endorsements
Cooper received the following endorsements.
- Former President Donald Trump (Republican Party, Conservative Party)
2022
See also: Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Incumbent Greg Stanton defeated Kelly Cooper and Stephan Jones in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Stanton (D) | 56.1 | 148,941 | |
| Kelly Cooper (R) | 43.9 | 116,521 | ||
| Stephan Jones (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 36 | ||
| Total votes: 265,498 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Incumbent Greg Stanton advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Stanton | 100.0 | 61,319 | |
| Total votes: 61,319 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matthew Daniel (D)
- Judy Stahl (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4
Kelly Cooper defeated Tanya Wheeless, Dave Giles, Rene Lopez, and Jerone Davison in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kelly Cooper | 28.4 | 20,281 | |
| Tanya Wheeless | 25.4 | 18,166 | ||
| Dave Giles | 18.7 | 13,348 | ||
| Rene Lopez | 14.2 | 10,149 | ||
| Jerone Davison | 13.3 | 9,502 | ||
| Total votes: 71,446 | ||||
| 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brandon DeHart (R)
- Alex Stovall (R)
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kelly Cooper did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Cooper’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
ECONOMY I am a fiscal conservative who believes in the importance of individual responsibility and free market principles. As your Congressman, I will take a common-sense approach to lower taxes, will reduce and eliminate government red-tape and push for limited government intervention in our free markets. This will provide the economic fuel for growth, produce higher wage jobs, and provide everyone an opportunity for the American Dream. I will fight to balance our budget and reduce government spending to help address the national debt and deficit.ose from low-income backgrounds, to access the best education for their children.
My mother worked two and sometimes three jobs to keep food on the table. She struggled to raise my sister and I but managed to move us into a decent school district. My mom knew that education would be a key to our success in life. This is why I firmly believe in providing educational freedom and parental rights for children as a means of ensuring that parents have the ability to make the best decisions for their children's education. This includes the right to choose the type of education their child receives, whether it be in a public, private, or a homeschool setting. Parents are in the best position to know what is best for their child, and the government should not interfere in this decision-making process. Simply put, your address should not limit the quality of your educational choices. I am an open advocate for school choice policies, such as vouchers and tax credit scholarships, which allow parents to use public funds to pay for the education of their choice. This promotes competition among schools and allows for more options for families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, to access the best education for their children.
I am a compassionate conservative, with a family that looks like many Arizonans, a Hispanic wife, and multicultural children. We are obligated to secure our borders for the protection of our citizens and national security. Immigration modernization is a vital issue that needs to be addressed because many are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. These two concerns should be balanced in order to create a secure, efficient, and common-sense immigration system. As a result of our broken system, millions of migrants have been forced to live in the shadows. We must find a fair and reasonable way to address those that are here. We need a robust guest worker system that supports our vital industries. Our modernized system has to address all our immigration issues, secure our country, provide critical resources for industry and is effective and efficient for all.
Ensuring water rights in the western United States is a critical issue that requires a careful balance of economic development, environmental protection, and respect for private property rights. I support an "all of the above" approach to ensure Arizona and our western states have the water they need for generations to come. "All of the above" approaches include working with others to have conversations on common-sense solutions, such as water desalination, piping water from other regions, and investing in vital technology improvements and development. Water desalination is a proven and reliable solution used around the world that would create economic growth opportunities and high wage jobs. Water piping is utilized around the world and has the benefit of creating hydropower along the route if done properly. Our current water support technologies are antiquated and require modernization.
After graduating from high school, I joined the United States Marine Corps. I learned the power of working with others to accomplish a common mission. I live my life by the Marine motto of Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for “always faithful” or “always loyal.” It is my firm conviction that we owe our veterans everything. There was a time in each veteran’s life when they signed a blank check to Uncle Sam. It is that unconditional commitment to the United States of America that deserves the same commitment in return. Too often our veterans returning from service have been exposed to traumatic experiences and often develop PTSD, which can lead to devastating outcomes such as homelessness and even suicide. The system can be too difficult to navigate, which slows vital support and care. Our Nation’s finest deserve better. The best help for veterans is in their local community and the Federal government can and must partner with local communities to get veterans the services and the help they need.
We all see the crises in cities like San Francisco, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago where bad public policy has created an unsustainable situation for families, businesses, and their local communities. As a law-and-order conservative, I believe that it is essential to address the issue of crime and homelessness in our society. I believe that crime and homelessness are closely linked and that we must take strong action to combat both. This includes increasing funding for law enforcement and providing more resources to our police and other first responders. I also support stiffer penalties for those who commit hard crimes, especially repeat offenders. But without addressing the rapidly growing issues of mental health; identification, treatment, and access to care, the above issues will only continue to grow. We must provide more resources for mental health services and addiction treatment programs to help those who are struggling with these issues. We should incentivize those who seek to work in the mental health industry as we are grossly understaffed and short on resources. I believe a healthy society shows compassion for those who are struggling, and mental health is no exception.
Big tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter hold significant power and influence in the marketplace and in society. As your Congressman, I will fight for an "Internet Bill of Rights" that provides protections to internet users to guarantee certain basic rights. This bill will include: 1. Privacy: The individual person will retain full ownership of their own personal information online, including the ability to restrict data collection and to be informed about how personal data is being used. 2. Free speech: The fundamental right to personal expression without fear of censorship or retaliation, while also taking into account the responsibility to prevent online harassment and violation of our national laws. 3. Access: The right to access and use the internet without discrimination, censorship, or restrictions, and to ensure that all individuals have equal opportunity to participate in the digital world. 4. Due process: The right to fair and transparent procedures when it comes to the enforcement of laws or regulations related to the internet, including the ability to legally challenge decisions that affect one's online rights. We are still in the development stage of our digital lives and our laws must evolve over time to address additional concerns as new issues arise.
I have said repeatedly, if the Biden administration does not begin to tackle inflation it will lead our economy into recession, but hiking taxes during a recession is flat out dangerous policy for our Country. Numerous large companies continue to announce thousands of layoffs. This is the result of the intense inflation Americans have endured during this administration and the policies they have enacted. We need to work together to address the underlying issues that are causing inflation starting with allowing for the domestic production of oil, which would lower overall cost for most consumer goods and slow down inflation quickly. When I am elected, I will push for common sense solutions that lower the cost of the supply chain and unleash the power of the American economy to help all citizens of our district and our country. I will support pro-growth strategies that allow us to pay down the federal debt, meet our obligations while protecting our seniors (Social Security and Medicare) and helping future generations live the American dream. I will always put people over politics and lead with compassion - not ideology.
An "all of the above" approach for energy independence is a vital strategy for ensuring that the United States has access to a reliable and diverse energy supply. This includes:Nuclear Power: 1. Nuclear power is a clean and efficient source of energy that can help reduce our dependence on foreign and even domestic oil. 2. Building and Revitalizing Oil Refineries: The last oil refinery built in America was in 1976 - nearly 50 years ago. Building new and upgrading existing facilities will increase domestic production of oil and gas and create jobs in the energy sector. 3. Environmental Energy Sources: Investing in alternative energy sources like hydro, solar and wind power, as well as in research and development of new technologies, utilizes the power Earth has given us while providing cleaner fuel options and reduces dependency on oil. The United States must remain a leader in the global energy market. To do this, we must take a common-sense approach to this problem. Creating real, life-impacting change takes teamwork and the willingness to listen to others. In the end, we must do the right thing – not the easy thing.
Taxation without representation started a revolution. Once those patriots completed the formation of their new nation, they needed to defend it. This is where the 2nd Amendment came into being. As a Marine, lifetime member of the NRA, GOA, USCCA and a member of the local gun club, I believe very strongly in the need for the 2nd Amendment. When the represented have no defense they are not represented, they are subjected. The 2nd Amendment is non-negotiable, and I’ll always defend it. [2] |
” |
| —Kelly Cooper’s campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
2022
Kelly Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. 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.
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- The Economy - is on the brink. Our current Democrat representatives have been a rubber stamp for the Biden administration. Encouraging people to stay home with ‘free money’ has been one of the many factors leading to today’s weak economy. We must stop subsidizing the destruction of the free market and return our economy to work. With an extraordinary number of people unemployed and near as many open jobs it no longer makes sense.
- Border Control/Immigration - There’s an overwhelming flood of people from all over the world attempting to cross our borders. Many of these individuals get taken advantage of with the specific purpose of overwhelming the border protection agencies. Fentanyl and other lethally dangerous drugs are being smuggled across the border to the detriment and devastation of the health and wellbeing of our society. We must stop the mass caravans that are crossing over into our country illegally and unchecked and advocate for our law enforcement officials to return to their primary function of stopping these dangerous elements from disregarding our borders and entering our country illegally.
- Education - School choice helps to create an environment of competition and diversity of education. I believe that competition is the foundation of success and excellence. The removal of competition creates consolidation and can lead to stagnation and mediocrity. Our children, and by extension our future deserve the absolute best we can offer. Any system that is not willing to compete for your participation or patronage is a system destined for failure. We must remove the federal government from education. We must also work to support and expand school choice.
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:
| “ |
Government Overreach My goal in Congress is to both reinforce and protect States’ rights. The continued attempts to nationalize government local programs is very dangerous. John Dalberg-Action said it best, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Our Constitutional Republic was built on the idea that it would be powered by representative Government and restrained by laws of the Constitution. We must stop yielding our power and stand up! “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same” That is part of the oath I took when I joined the Marines. That is what I intend to continue to do as I represent you in Congress. The only way we can accomplish this is if you stand up!
I have said repeatedly, if the Biden administration does not begin to tackle inflation it will lead our economy into recession, but hiking taxes during a recession is flat out dangerous policy for our Country. Numerous large companies including Tesla, Coinbase, and Arizona’s own Carvana have announced thousands of layoffs. This is a logical result of the intense inflation Americans have endured these past months. Economics 101 tells us that the worst time to raise taxes is in an inflationary cycle. We cannot afford a repeated failure of liberal economic policies of the 1970’s again, but the Biden administration continues to double down on those failures. Instead of policies that would immediately help Americans like allowing for the domestic production of oil which would lower overall cost for most consumer goods and slow down inflation quickly, when I am elected, I will push for common sense solutions that lower the cost of the supply chain and unleash the power of the American economy to help all citizens of our district. I will support pro-growth strategies that allow us to pay down federal debt, meet our obligations to our seniors and help the next generation live the American dream. I will always put people over politics.
There’s an overwhelming flood of people from all over the world attempting to cross our borders. Many of these individuals get taken advantage of with the specific purpose of overwhelming the border protection agencies and lining the pockets of the cartels. Who exactly is benefiting from this inhumane manipulation? Cartels, child traffickers, sex traffickers, drug traffickers, terrorists to name a few. Fentanyl and other lethally dangerous drugs are being smuggled across the border to the detriment and devastation of the health and wellbeing of our society. We must stop the mass caravans that are crossing over into our country illegally and unchecked and advocate for our law enforcement officials to return to their primary function of stopping these dangerous elements from disregarding our borders and entering our country illegally. We can accomplish this through the stay in Mexico policy that was a major factor in the reduction of illegal crossing. Any person seeking asylum in our country can apply in Mexico, or their home country and follow the path that all other immigrants have followed.
Educational freedom helps to create an environment of competition and diversity of education. I believe that competition is the foundation of success and excellence. The removal of competition creates consolidation and can lead to stagnation and mediocrity. Our children, and by extension our future deserve the absolute best we can offer. Any system that is not willing to compete for your participation or patronage is a system destined for failure. We must remove the federal government from education. We must also work to support and expand school choice.
It is my firm conviction that we owe our veterans everything. There was a time in each veteran’s life when they signed a blank check to Uncle Sam. It is that unconditional commitment to the United States of America that deserves the same commitment in return. Too often our veterans returning from service have been exposed to traumatic experiences and often usually develop PTSD. They are suffering and don’t know where to find support. This can and often does lead to homelessness or even worse. The best help for veterans is in their local community, but the Federal government can and must partner with local communities to get veterans the services and help they need.
It is in the formation of our government, ‘by the people, for the people’. We must ensure not only the integrity of our elections, but the ability to validate the outcomes. In Arizona, as in so many other places, the 2020 elections were a disaster. Rules changed by unelected bureaucrats. So-called emergency voting centers that were heavily skewed in liberal areas. Questions about signature verification and ballot security. And in the end, millions of Arizonans couldn’t help but wonder if their vote really counted. Instead of addressing these issues head on, Nancy Pelosi, Greg Stanton and the far left in Congress are working to nationalize our elections. This one size fits all approach would be a disaster for Arizona…it’s not about integrity, it’s a power grab, plain and simple. In Congress, I’ll protect our sacred right to vote, and make it harder to cheat. That is the only way to ensure confidence in our system and strength in our Democracy.
Taxation without representation was at the start of a revolution. Once those patriots completed the formation of their new nation, they needed to defend it. This is where the 2nd Amendment came into being. As a Marine, lifetime member of the NRA and a member of the local gun club I believe very strongly in the need for the 2nd Amendment. When the 2nd Amendment says, “Shall not be Infringed,” it means that gun control is unconstitutional. When the represented have no defense they are not represented, they are subjected. The 2nd Amendment is non-negotiable, and I’ll always defend it.
Life is precious. As a Marine I was trained to defend the weak. We must work to protect the vulnerable, and none are so vulnerable as the unborn. The unborn will have a friend in Congress when I am elected.
Our law enforcement officers are the mortar that helps hold our society together. The consistent disparagement, vilification and defamation of these brave men and women only serves to weaken that hold. If we continue this trend the wall between civil society and anarchy will break down and we will live in a whole different world. A world run by warlords is no place for your family. In congress I will fight back against any efforts to defund the police, a dangerous policy that would have a devastating impact on our community.
Our nation is built upon, fought and bled for our most fundamental of rights which is free speech. Our tech industry is using the Federal shield of 230 to block users, censor speech and fundamentally control access as well as the narrative of public information. Big Tech has weaponized social media and much of the internet to stop any content or post they disagree with. I do not believe we should allow censorship by law as Big Tech lawyers hide behind this provision to eliminate free lawful speech. I will sponsor, support and drive legislation that will remove the immunities Big Tech receives and ensure equal and fair access and treatment to all US Citizens from these companies. I will continue to put People over Politics.[2] |
” |
| —Kelly Cooper's campaign website (2022)[4] | ||
Campaign finance summary
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Arizona District 4 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 5, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kelly Cooper for Congress, “Issues,” accessed June 28, 2024
- ↑ Kelly Cooper for Congress, “Issues,” accessed October 8, 2022
