Ken William Cooley (born March 18, 1953) is an American politician, who served in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat and represented California's 8th Assembly District, which encompasses most of eastern Sacramento County, including the cities of Carmichael and Citrus Heights. Following the 2020 Census, Cooley ran for a sixth term in the 7th Assembly District during the 2022 November Elections but lost to Republican Josh Hoover.

Ken Cooley
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 8th district
In office
December 3, 2012 – December 3, 2022
Preceded byMariko Yamada
Succeeded byJosh Hoover
Member of the Rancho Cordova City Council
In office
November 5, 2002 – December 3, 2012
Preceded byposition established (city incorporation)
Succeeded byDonald Terry
Mayor of Rancho Cordova, California
In office
2005–2006
Preceded byLinda Budge
Succeeded byRobert J. McGarvey
In office
2010–2011
Preceded byDan Skoglund
Succeeded byRobert J. McGarvey
Personal details
Born (1953-03-18) March 18, 1953 (age 71)[1]
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Rancho Cordova, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
McGeorge School of Law (JD)
Professionlawyer

Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was a mayor and City Councilmember in Rancho Cordova.

Biography

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Born in Berkeley and raised in San Lorenzo, Hayward, and San Jose, Cooley graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1977 and the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in 1984.[2]

From 1977 to 1985, Cooley was chief of staff to state Assemblyman Lou Papan. From 1985 to 1988, Cooley was legislative counsel at the California Land Title Association. In 1988, Cooley returned to the California State Assembly to be chief counsel to the Finance and Insurance Committee. Cooley was legal counsel to State Farm Insurance from 1991 to 2008.[3]

In 2002, Cooley was elected to the Rancho Cordova City Council. In 2005, he became Mayor.

2014 California State Assembly

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California's 8th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 35,294 51.8
Republican Douglas Haaland 28,049 41.1
Libertarian Janice Marlae Bonser 4,830 7.1
Total votes 68,173 100.0
General election
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 62,892 56.7
Republican Douglas Haaland 48,057 43.3
Total votes 110,949 100.0
Democratic hold

2016 California State Assembly

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California's 8th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 61,704 58.3
Republican Nick Bloise 36,630 34.6
Libertarian Janice Marlae Bonser 7,588 7.2
Total votes 105,922 100.0
General election
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 104,552 57.0
Republican Nick Bloise 78,848 43.0
Total votes 183,400 100.0
Democratic hold

2018 California State Assembly

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California's 8th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 53,490 53.9
Republican Melinda Avey 40,792 41.1
Libertarian Janice Marlae Bonser 3,017 3.0
No party preference Lawrence Ray Murray 2,025 2.0
Total votes 99,324 100.0
General election
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 95,450 55.8
Republican Melinda Avey 75,742 44.2
Total votes 171,192 100.0
Democratic hold

2020 California State Assembly

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2020 California's 8th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Cooley (incumbent) 39,321 54.1%
Republican Cathy Cook 33,405 45.9%
Total votes

References

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  1. ^ California Birth Index
  2. ^ "Full Biography for Ken Cooley". SmartVoter.org. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "Rancho Cordova Mayor Ken Cooley Biography". SmartVoter. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
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