# Jim Cooper (California politician)

James Cooper (born January 5, 1964) is the current Sheriff of Sacramento County and politician who served in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat who represented the 9th Assembly District, which encompassed portions of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties.
Cooper was a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2014, he was an Elk Grove Founding Mayor and 15-year City Councilmember and 30-year Sacramento County Sheriff's Captain.
On March 3, 2022, Cooper was stopped by TSA officers at the Sacramento airport for having a loaded gun in his purse. Cooper was sworn in as the sheriff of Sacramento County, California on December 16, 2022.

## Political positions

Cooper was graded an “F” in 2020 by the California Rifle and Pistol Association for his positions associated with the Second Amendment.
Cooper has also been described as a "crusader against criminal justice reform". Examples of this include his opposition to Proposition 47 and support for Proposition 20.
Cooper is opposed to fossil fuel divestment and played a key role in halting the progression of SB 1173, a bill that would have forced CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from most fossil fuel holdings.

## Sacramento County Sheriff 2010

Cooper unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff of Sacramento County, California in 2010 and lost against Scott Jones. Before running, he had a thirty-year career in various positions at the Sheriff's office.
He ran again in 2022, where he won the election and currently serves as Sheriff for the County of Sacramento.

## California State Assembly 2014-2022

California's 9th State Assembly district election, 2014 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper | 18,923 | 31.1 |
| | Democratic | Darrell Fong | 17,752 | 29.2 |
| | Republican | Tim Gorsulowsky | 10,938 | 18.0 |
| | Republican | Manuel J. Martin | 8,111 | 13.3 |
| | Democratic | Diana Rodriguez-Suruki | 5,080 | 8.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,804 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper | 50,188 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Darrell Fong | 40,220 | 44.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 90,408 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
California's 9th State Assembly district election, 2016 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 64,879 | 69.9 |
| | Republican | Timothy Scott Gorsulowsky | 27,924 | 30.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 92,803 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 109,979 | 66.8 |
| | Republican | Timothy Scott Gorsulowsky | 54,729 | 33.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 164,708 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
California's 9th State Assembly district election, 2018 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 49,675 | 67.8 |
| | Democratic | Harry He | 11,927 | 16.3 |
| | Democratic | Mario Garcia | 11,643 | 15.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,245 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 92,951 | 68.3 |
| | Democratic | Harry He | 43,225 | 31.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,176 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2020 California's 9th State Assembly district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 50,609 | 43.8 |
| | Republican | Eric M. Rigard | 33,997 | 29.4 |
| | Democratic | Tracie Stafford | 27,974 | 24.2 |
| | Democratic | Mushtaq A. Tahirkheli | 3,015 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 115,595 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 142,088 | 65.8 |
| | Republican | Eric M. Rigard | 73,742 | 34.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 215,830 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 2022 Sacramento County Sheriff

On March 15, 2022, Cooper announced that he would be a candidate for Sacramento County Sheriff. In the election, he defeated his opponent, undersheriff Jim Barnes with 54.48% of the vote.
Sacramento County Sheriff :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Cooper | 168,374 | 54.5 |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Barnes | 140,803 | 45.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,177 | 100.0 |