Former Rep. Jim Cooper

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D Tennessee, 4th (1983-1995), 5th (2003-2023) Retired

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Summary

COOPER, James Hayes Shofner, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., June 19, 1954; graduated from Groton School, Groton, Mass., 1972; B.A., University of North Carolina (Morehead Scholar), Chapel Hill, N.C., 1975; M.A., Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar), Oxford, England, 1977; J.D., Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass., 1980; lawyer, private practice; adjunct professor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 1995); was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress in 1994, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate; investment banker; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eighth (January 3, 2003-present).

Biographical

Full Name: James Hayes Shofner Cooper
Gender: Male
Pronunciation: jim KOO-pur
Date of Birth: June 19, 1954 (age: 69)
Place of Birth: Nashville, Tenn.
Religion: Episcopalian
Hometown: Shelbyville, Tenn.
Place of Residence: Nashville, Tenn.
Previous Occupation: Attorney; investment banker

Wikipedia

Family:

Married: Mary Falls political adviser, March 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.

Previous relationship: Martha Hayes Cooper Widowed, April 6, 1985 in Gulfport, Miss.

3 children: Mary, Jamie, Hayes

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

GovTrack

Campaign Links:

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

Open Secrets political finance profile

YouTube, campaign

Social Networking:

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Flickr, official

Education

Harvard Law School - JD (1980)
University of Oxford (England) - BA, MA, politics and economics (1977)

Activities and notes: Rhodes Scholar
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - BA, history and economics (1975)

Activities and notes: Morehead-Cain Scholar
Groton (Mass.) School - High school diploma (1972)

Greek Organizations:

Chi Psi Fraternity

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2003-Jan. 2, 2023) Retired

Member, 5th Congressional District of Tennessee
U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 1983-Jan. 2, 1995) Ran for Senate

Member, 4th Congressional District of Tennessee

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 99.99%
Democrat
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 68.00%
Democrat

Jody Ball, 32.00%
Republican
2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 62.55%
Democrat

Stacy Ries Snyder, 37.45%
Republican
2015 (Nov. 4, 2014 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 62.32%
Democrat

Bob Ries, 35.70%
Republican

Paul Deakin, 1.98%
Independent
2013 (Nov. 6, 2012 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 65.23%
Democrat

Brad Staats, 32.78%
Republican

John Miglietta, 1.98%
Green
2011 (Nov. 2, 2010 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 56.23%
Democrat

David Hall, 42.07%
Republican
2009 (Nov. 4, 2008 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 65.84%
Democrat

Gerard Donovan, 31.01%
Republican

Jon Jackson, 1.98%
Independent

John P Miglietta, 1.16%
Independent
2007 (Nov. 7, 2006 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 69.00%
Democrat

Thomas F Kovach, 27.90%
Republican

Ginny Welsch, 2.11%
Independent
2005 (Nov. 2, 2004 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 69.26%
Democrat

Scott Knapp, 30.73%
Republican
2003 (Nov. 5, 2002 election)

5th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 63.73%
Democrat

Robert Duvall, 33.25%
Republican

John Jay Hooker, 1.79%
Independent
1999 (Nov. 3, 1998 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

William Vanderpool Hilleary (Van), 59.57%
Republican

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 40.41%
Democrat
1993 (Nov. 3, 1992 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 64.06%
Democrat

Dale Johnson, 32.58%
Republican

Ginnia C Fox, 2.57%
Independent
1991 (Nov. 6, 1990 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 67.42%
Democrat

Claiborne Clay Sanders, 29.62%
Republican

Gene M Bullington, 2.95%
Independent
1989 (Nov. 8, 1988 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 99.98%
Democrat
1987 (Nov. 4, 1986 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 99.99%
Democrat
1985 (Nov. 6, 1984 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 75.16%
Democrat

James Beau Seigneur, 24.84%
Republican
1983 (Nov. 2, 1982 election)

4th Congressional District of Tennessee

James Hayes Shofner Cooper (Jim), 66.13%
Democrat

Cissy Baker, 33.87%
Republican

Associated Organizations

Volunteer service:

Boy Scouts of America

Election campaign:

Cooper for Congress (Tennessee)

Teaching position:

Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management (1995-)
Adjunct Professor

Awards

Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Fiscal Hero (Fix the Debt Coalition Inc.) (June 2022)
Fiscal Hero (Fix the Debt Coalition Inc.) (2020)
Hero of Main Street (National Retail Federation) (Sept. 2018)
Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (March 2017)
Champion of Science Award (Science Coalition) (Dec. 2013)

Official Signature

$Official signature$

Privately Financed Travel

45 trips taken between 2003 - 2022 costing $246,221

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

Trip Sponsors:

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2016 (Amendment), 2015, 2015 (Amendment), 2014, 2014 (Amendment), 2014 (Amendment), 2013, 2013 (Amendment), 2012, 2012 (Amendment), 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2008 (Amendment), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2003 (Amendment)
Extension Letter: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2018, 2017, 2017, 2016, 2016, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
Gift Waiver: 2017
Stock transaction: 09/30/2016, 07/22/2016, 01/04/2017 (Amendment), 05/08/2015, 07/03/2013, 03/20/2013
Termination: 2023
» see more

Foreign Gifts

11/6/2004-11/14/2004: In-country accommodations, meals, domestic transport, tours, theater tickets paid by Australian Government during travel in Sydney, Melbourne and Port Douglas. from Australia ($4,417.14)
3/23/2013-3/29/2013: Ground transportation in Berlin and Munich from Germany

» See more

Congressional Staff

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $65,176.45
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

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