John M. Cooke, Jr. is a Republican politician serving as the Colorado State Senator for District 13, which includes parts of Weld County. First elected in 2014, Cooke is a former sheriff of Weld County and has focused on legislation related to agriculture, law enforcement, energy, and transportation. He is known for his conservative views, particularly on gun control and law enforcement issues. He has held leadership roles within the state Senate, including Assistant Minority Leader.