# Bud Cook (politician)

Donald "Bud" Cook (born June 29, 1956) is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, who has represented the 50th District since 2023. Prior to redistricting, Cook represented the 49th District from 2017 to 2022.

## Biography

Cook was born on June 29, 1956. He graduated from California Area High School. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Cook served two terms from 1986 to 1989 as a Buckhannon, West Virginia councilman.

### Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2014, Cook unsuccessfully sought election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, losing to Democratic incumbent Peter Daley in the 49th District race. In 2016, Daley chose not to run for re-election. Cook once again ran for the 49th District seat and won. He won re-election in 2018 and 2020. Following redistricting, Cook ran for the 50th District seat in 2022, and won. Cook won his reelection in the 2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, defeating Democratic challenger Drew Ross Manko.
Cook's legislative priorities include lower taxes and gun rights. In 2020, he was among 26 State House Republicans who called for the reversal of Joe Biden's certification as the winner of Pennsylvania's electoral votes in the 2020 United States presidential election, citing false claims of election irregularities. He also was involved in a multi-year investigation of Local Share Accounts (LSA) and their use in Washington County.

## Electoral history

2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Peter Daley (incumbent) | 8,557 | 56.4 |
| | Republican | Bud Cook | 6,608 | 43.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,165 | 100.00 |
2016 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook | 2,672 | 53.8 |
| | Republican | Melanie S. Patterson | 2,257 | 46.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,929 | 100.00 |
2016 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook | 13,749 | 54.1 |
| | Democratic | Alan D. Benyak | 11,667 | 45.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,416 | 100.00 |
2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook (incumbent) | 9,945 | 50.03 |
| | Democratic | Steven Toprani | 9,934 | 49.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,879 | 100.00 |
2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook (incumbent) | 3,353 | 60.9 |
| | Republican | Anthony James Bottino, Jr. | 2,155 | 39.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,508 | 100.00 |
2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 49th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook (incumbent) | 17,926 | 63.6 |
| | Democratic | Randy J. Barli | 10,278 | 36.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,204 | 100.00 |
2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 50th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook | 15,003 | 61.9 |
| | Democratic | Doug Mason | 9,216 | 38.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,219 | 100.00 |
2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, District 50 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook (incumbent) | 3,920 | 62.05 |
| | Republican | Stephanie Waggett | 2,367 | 37.47 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 30 | 0.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,317 | 100.00 |
2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 50th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bud Cook (incumbent) | 20,318 | 69.18 |
| | Democratic | Drew Ross Manko | 9,053 | 30.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,371 | 100.00 |