Mark Cochran
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Cochran in 2024
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| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 23rd district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Forgety |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1985-11-21) November 21, 1985 (age 38) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Englewood, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Tennessee |
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Mark Cochran is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he represents District 23 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He was elected as part of the 111th general assembly in November 2018.[1] He was preceded by Republican representative John W. Forgety.[2] District 23 encompasses McMinn County and parts of Monroe County. Cochran began serving as the treasurer for the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 2019.
Cochran's family roots in the town of Englewood, Tennessee date back seven generations to the 1850s when his ancestors established a small farm. He grew up tending cattle and bagging groceries in his parents' store.[3][better source needed] He is a devout Christian and conservative.
From 2004-2008, Cochran attended the University of TennesseeinKnoxville where he earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a grade point average of 4.0. Following this, he remained at the University of Tennessee for one more year, to 2009, to earn a Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism, continuing to maintain a 4.0 GPA.[citation needed]
In 2010, Cochran worked as a staff assistant in the office of former senator Bob Corker who held office from 2007-2019. Also starting in 2010, he became an assistant to the McMinn County Mayor's Office.[4] In 2015 he served as the campaign manager for Jason Zachary who ran for state representative for District 14, and defeated Scott Hacker with 72.9% or the vote.[5] As of 2015 Cochran also served as a board member on the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
In 2023, Cochran supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules. The expulsion was widely characterized as unprecedented.[6]
In the general election for District 23 of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Mark Cochran (R) defeated Brad Hartley (D).[7]
| Candidate | % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Cochran (R) | 80.7 | 16,395 |
| Brad Hartley (D) | 19.3 | 3,918 |
| Total | 100 | 20,313 |
Preceding the general election, on August 2, 2018, Cochran won the Republican primary election against Donald Winder III for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23.[8]
| Mark Cochran | Donald Winder III | |
|---|---|---|
| McMinn | 4,198 | 3,367 |
| Monroe | 1,822 | 849 |
| Total | 6,020 | 4,216 |
Cochran presently is a member on the following legislative committees:[9] Education, Curriculum (Testing, and Innovation Subcommittees), Consumer and Human Resource Committee, (Consumer Subcommittee).
