Jeff Cooling (born 1987) is an American politician and electrician who has represented the 77th district of the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2023, which consists of parts of southern Linn County, including parts of southern Cedar Rapids. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Jeff Cooling
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 77th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byAmy Nielsen (redistricting)
Personal details
Born1987 (age 36–37)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAmanda
Children2
EducationIBEW apprenticeship
OccupationElectrician

Early life

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Cooling was born in 1987 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was raised in Shueyville, Iowa. He graduated from Prairie High School in 2006 and completed his apprenticeship through IBEW Local 405.[1]

Political career

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Following decennial redistricting in 2021, Cooling announced his candidacy for the open 77th district seat of the Iowa House of Representatives in early 2022.[2] He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 7, 2022, and won the general election on November 8 unopposed with over 95 percent of the vote.[3]

In 2024, Cooling filed to run for reelection.[4] He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 4, 2024, and will again run unopposed in the general election on November 5, 2024.[3]

Cooling currently serves on the Local Government, State Government, Transportation, and Labor and Workforce committees, the lattermost of which he is the ranking member.[5]

Cooling has said that his priorities include workers' rights, childcare and education.[2]

Personal life

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Cooling has a wife, Amanda, and two children. He resides in Cedar Rapids. He is the president of IBEW Local 405 and is vice president of the Hawkeye Area Labor Council.[1][2]

Electoral history

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Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa House of Representatives Democratic primary elections, 2022 [3]
District 77
Turnout: 1,612
Democratic (newly redistricted) Jeff CoolingDemocratic1,60999.8
Other/Write-in votes 30.2
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2022 [3]
District 77
Turnout: 7,298
Democratic (newly redistricted) Jeff CoolingDemocratic6,95195.2
Other/Write-in votes 3474.8

References

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  1. ^ a b c "State Representative - All Years". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Lynch, James Q. "Cedar Rapids union leader running for Iowa House seat". The Gazette. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jeff Cooling". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "primarycandidatelist.pdf" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "State Representative - Bills & Committees". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved May 31, 2024.