Jill Cooper (politician)

Jill Cooper (née Nixon; born c. 1962^[1]) is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 55th District since 2023.

Jill Cooper
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 55th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Jason Silvis
Personal details
Born	c. 1962 Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Leighton Cooper ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	2
Residence(s)	Murrysville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Grove City College (B.S.)
Alma mater	Plum High School
Website	repjillcooper.com

Early life, education, and career

Born Jill Nixon in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,^[2][1] she grew up as one of four sisters in Plum, Pennsylvania.^[2] Nixon graduated from Plum High School in 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management engineering from Grove City College in 1984.^[1]

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.^[2]

Political career

In 2008, Cooper was elected to the Westmoreland County Republican Committee,^[2] chairing it from 2012 to 2014.^[3] She was later elected to the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee in 2014.^[2]

Cooper was a political organizer who participated in protests against lockdowns and business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2][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.^[2][9]

Electoral history

2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, 55th District^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jill Cooper	4,560	48.74
	Republican	Jason Silvis (incumbent)	3,937	42.08
	Republican	Michelle A. Schmidt	838	8.96
	Write-in		20	0.21
Total votes			9,355	100.00

2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, 55th District^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jill Cooper	18,523	61.32
	Democratic	Scott Gauss	11,585	38.35
	Write-in		98	0.32
Total votes			30,206	100.00

2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, District 55^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jill Cooper (incumbent)	6,034	78.08
	Republican	Jamie Lingg	1,676	21.69
	Write-in		18	0.23
Total votes			7,728	100.00

References

1. "Jill Nixon Cooper". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
2. "About Jill". Cooper for PA House. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
3. Doyle, Patrick (October 3, 2022). "Pennsylvania State House 55th District: A guide to the 2022 general election and candidates". 90.5 WESA. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
4. Times-News Staff (August 19, 2020). "Parents organize Let Our Kids Play' rally for Thursday". GoErie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
5. Varine, Patrick (March 18, 2022). "Murrysville GOP organizer will challenge Silvis in 55th District". TribLIVE. Trib Total Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
6. Cholodofsky, Rich (May 17, 2022). "Cooper unseats incumbent Silvis; Dunbar wins in landslide". TribLIVE. Trib Total Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
7. McGoldrick, Gillian (May 29, 2022). "How 2 southwestern Pa. representatives lost re-election bids to fellow GOP challengers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
8. Cholodofsky, Rich (November 9, 2022). "Republican Cooper wins 55th House seat". TribLIVE. Trib Total Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
9. "About Rep. Jill Cooper". PA State Rep. Jill Cooper. PA House Republican Caucus. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
10. "Election Results for The Republican Ballot For the General Primary held May 17, 2022". Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
11. "REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 55TH DISTRICT". Westmoreland County, PA General Election November 8, 2022. scytl.us. December 14, 2022. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
12. "Summary Results Report 2024 General Primary April 23, 2024 OFFICIAL RESULTS Westmoreland". Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. May 13, 2024. p. 97. Retrieved 20 May 2024.