David Cole (politician)

Summary

David Cole is an American politician from Alabama. He served in the Alabama House of Representatives for District 10 from 2022 to 2023. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison for electoral fraud.

David Cole
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
November 9, 2022 – August 30, 2023[1]
Preceded byMike Ball
Succeeded byMarilyn Lands
Personal details
Political partyRepublican

Cole earned his bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University and a medical degree from the University of Arkansas College for Medical Sciences. He is a retired colonel in the United States Army. After Mike Ball announced that he would not run for reelection to the state house for District 10 in the 2022 elections, Cole announced his candidacy to succeed him.[2] Cole won the seat.[3]

In August 2023, Cole was arrested for voting at an unauthorized location.[4] Cole had leased a 5-by-5-foot (1.5 m × 1.5 m) space in a friend's home for $5 per month in 2021, which he claimed was his residence and used to run and vote in District 10. Cole accepted a plea agreement for voter fraud that required him to resign from the state house.[5] He was sentenced to 60 days in prison in October.[6] Cole was succeeded by Democrat Marilyn Lands.[7]

Electoral history edit

2022 Alabama House of Representatives general election, 10th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Cole 7,581 51.59%
Democratic Marilyn Lands 6,608 44.96%
Libertarian Elijah Boyd 503 3.42%
Write-in 4 0.03%
Total votes 14,696 100

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.al.com/news/2023/08/david-cole-resigns-seat-in-alabama-house-after-arrest-on-illegal-voting-charge.html
  2. ^ Smith, Dylan (November 17, 2021). "Retired Colonel David Cole launches bid for Alabama House of Representatives District 10".
  3. ^ https://www.al.com/election/2022/11/election-2022-republicans-sweep-huntsville-area-legislative-races.html
  4. ^ Rocha, Alander (August 29, 2023). "Rep. David Cole arrested on voter fraud charges".
  5. ^ Lyman, Brian (August 31, 2023). "Rep. David Cole resigns from Alabama House; agrees to plead guilty to voting fraud charge".
  6. ^ "Former Rep. David Cole sentenced to 60 days in jail for election fraud". Alabama Daily News. Associated Press. October 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Milman, Oliver (March 27, 2024). "Democrat wins election in conservative Alabama after focus on abortion and IVF". The Guardian. Retrieved March 27, 2024.