Jill Cooper (politician) explained
Jill Cooper (née Nixon; born [1]) is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 55th District since 2023.
Early life, education, and career
Born Jill Nixon in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,[2] she grew up as one of four sisters in Plum, Pennsylvania. Nixon graduated from Plum High School in 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management engineering from Grove City College in 1984.
Nixon worked for Alcoa for fourteen years, eventually becoming vice president of sales and overseas marketing at a subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia. She retired from Alcoa to raise her children.
Political career
In 2008, Cooper was elected to the Westmoreland County Republican Committee, chairing it from 2012 to 2014.[3] She was later elected to the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee in 2014.
Cooper was a political organizer who participated in protests against lockdowns and business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] [5]
In 2022, Cooper unseated incumbent Pennsylvania State Representative Jason Silvis in the primary with 49% of the vote in an election against Silvis and another primary contender.[6] Cooper said she took the opportunity to run against Silvis, not because she opposed him, but because Silvis's district, the recently redrawn 55th District, had 75% new constituents and was an "open seat" in her mind. She was additionally "passion[ate]" to represent the district.[7] She defeated Democratic candidate Scott Gauss in the general election.[8]
Personal life
Nixon met her husband, Leighton Cooper, in Atlanta, Georgia while she was working for Alcoa. The couple married in 1999 and moved to Murrysville, Pennsylvania in 2005 where they currently reside with their two children.[9]
Notes and References
- Web site: Jill Nixon Cooper . Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives . 17 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222011/https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=9550 . live .
- Web site: About Jill . Cooper for PA House . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217194326/https://www.votejillcooper.com/about-1 . February 17, 2023.
- News: Doyle . Patrick . Pennsylvania State House 55th District: A guide to the 2022 general election and candidates . 17 February 2023 . . October 3, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222010/https://www.wesa.fm/wesa-voter-guide/pennsylvania-state-house-55th-district-a-guide-to-the-2022-general-election-and-candidates . live .
- News: Times-News Staff . Parents organize Let Our Kids Play’ rally for Thursday . 17 February 2023 . GoErie . August 19, 2020 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222009/https://www.goerie.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/08/19/parents-organize-let-our-kids/1091172007/ . live .
- News: Varine . Patrick . Murrysville GOP organizer will challenge Silvis in 55th District . 17 February 2023 . TribLIVE . Trib Total Media . March 18, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222011/https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/murrysville-gop-organizer-will-challenge-silvis-in-55th-district/ . live .
- News: Cholodofsky . Rich . Cooper unseats incumbent Silvis; Dunbar wins in landslide . 17 February 2023 . . Trib Total Media . May 17, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222010/https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/silvis-dunbar-hoping-to-hold-off-challengers/ . live .
- News: subscription . McGoldrick . Gillian . How 2 southwestern Pa. representatives lost re-election bids to fellow GOP challengers . 17 February 2023 . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . PG Publishing Co. . May 29, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222007/https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/05/29/pennsylvania-gop-republican-primary-representatives-congress-legislature-allegheny-westmoreland-county/stories/202205290147 . live .
- News: Cholodofsky . Rich . Republican Cooper wins 55th House seat . 17 February 2023 . . Trib Total Media . November 9, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222008/https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/republican-cooper-wins-55th-house-seat/ . live .
- Web site: About Rep. Jill Cooper . PA State Rep. Jill Cooper . PA House Republican Caucus . 17 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222009/https://www.repjillcooper.com/about . live .
