David Cook
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
David Cook
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 8
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Knights of Columbus, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 4
GOP Precinct Committeeman
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Arizona Republican Assembly; *Center for Arizona Policy Action (CAP Action); National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
OTHER (3)
*Arizona Police Association; Arizona State Troopers Association; National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Arizona
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Please see website for current list
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (6)
David Livingston (2020); Frank Pratt (2018); Jeff Flake (2008); Kate Brophy McGee (2020); Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)
Arizona Chamber of Commerce (2016); Arizona Free Enterprise Club (2016); Arizona Leadership Fund (2020); Arizonans for Stronger Universities (2019); Ethan Orr (2016)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2020); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (2020); United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (2020)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To save the life of the mother of course, with allowances for cases of incest, rape and molestation so long as the victim in those cases files a police report and the accusation is legitimate.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The state has no right to interfere in the operations of the church.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Free market reforms will work best -- allowing sale across state lines for instance. We also need consumers to have greater access to prices and services when they begin treatments. A lot of people get their health insurance through their job, so quite often the best thing we can do to help people with healthcare coverage is to create an economic environment where they can get the best possible job.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Arizona not only has a balanced budget, we have had a surplus that we have used to boost the state's Rainy Day Fund, so we're prepared for downturns like the virus shutdown. Still, I'm always happy to trim the fat and waste, even when we have a surplus.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Legal immigration should be extended to those whose presence in the US would be to the long-term benefits of the US. Those with higher education, greater job skills, and an assurance that they will be net contributors to our economy deserve obvious preference.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We already have in place the restrictions needed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. There is no reason to place additional restrictions on law-abiding citizens. Arizona is the #1 ranked pro-2nd Amendment state in the country. Frankly, more states should follow Arizona's lead on 2A issues.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Infrastructure/Water Education Jobs
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is ugly and downright unAmerican, but it is no more a threat to domestic security as evil is in most any form. So I agree that it disrupts our national harmony and damages our unity, but using words like "threat to domestic security" reads like a green light for the heavy hand of government to come in and attempt to change people's hearts through applications of force. That won't work. We're going to have to win that fight by changing people's hearts.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I think a lot of people likely think of me as very conservative, but that's a result of my dedication to the Constitution and my limited government views. I rank myself conservative because if you're conservative, then you're conservative. You are a believer or you're not. There isn't a category for Really Big Believer. You either support the Constitution or you don't. You don't Really Really Support the Constitution. So I'm a conservative, period. For proof, see my awards from pro-family and pro-taxpayer groups.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
To a degree, the fact that I've been doing it for four years says a lot. Beyond that, my real world experience as a husband and father and rancher and business owner, are all things that help me to judge potential policy and its impact on the people of Arizona.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I try to do the very best job I can for the people of my district. I want everyone to have their best shot at the American dream. And I appreciate the trust my voters have shown in me and will work hard every day to reward their faith in me.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and we are here as witnesses not judges. We should be helping our fellow man and living our lives as examples to others.
