James Cooper (born January 5, 1964) is the current Sheriff of Sacramento County and politician who served in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat who represented the 9th Assembly District, which encompassed portions of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties.
Cooper was a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2014, he was an Elk Grove Founding Mayor and 15-year City Councilmember and 30-year Sacramento County Sheriff's Captain.
On March 3, 2022, Cooper was stopped by TSA officers at the Sacramento airport for having a loaded gun in his purse. Cooper was sworn in as the sheriff of Sacramento County, California on December 16, 2022.
Political positions
Cooper was graded an “F” in 2020 by the California Rifle and Pistol Association for his positions associated with the Second Amendment.
Cooper has also been described as a "crusader against criminal justice reform". Examples of this include his opposition to Proposition 47 and support for Proposition 20.
Cooper is opposed to fossil fuel divestment and played a key role in halting the progression of SB 1173, a bill that would have forced CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from most fossil fuel holdings.
Sacramento County Sheriff 2010
Cooper unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff of Sacramento County, California in 2010 and lost against Scott Jones. Before running, he had a thirty-year career in various positions at the Sheriff's office.
He ran again in 2022, where he won the election and currently serves as Sheriff for the County of Sacramento.
California State Assembly 2014-2022
2022 Sacramento County Sheriff
On March 15, 2022, Cooper announced that he would be a candidate for Sacramento County Sheriff. In the election, he defeated his opponent, undersheriff Jim Barnes with 54.48% of the vote.