Sharon Cooper, a Republican from Marietta, is running for re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives in District 45. The district covers much of East Cobb.

Cooper faces Democrat Michelle Schreiner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Cooper is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

Cooper is a Marietta resident and registered nurse with a background in child development, education and nursing, according to her campaign and public profiles.

Her nursing license was first issued in 1970, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Experience and public service

Cooper was first elected to the Georgia House in 1996. She chairs the House Public and Community Health Committee, according to the committee’s official records.

Outside the legislature, Cooper served as chief financial officer and vice president at J.T. Cooper and Associates. She also served as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women and on Former First Lady Mary Perdue's Advisory Committee on Foster Care.

Cooper has worked as a medical administrator and registered nurse, according to BallotReady. Before entering politics, she co-authored a 1994 book called "Taxpayers' Tea Party," which presents a fiscally conservative view and advocates for citizens to get involved in politics, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. She updated the book in 2010.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Cooper's responses on her campaign website and via BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Healthcare: Cooper said she has fought as chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee to improve health outcomes, increase access to care and protect vulnerable populations. She said she will continue to protect the doctor-patient relationship and promote proper care.

Taxes and budget: Cooper said she supported House Bill 918 during the 2018 legislative session, which she described as the first significant tax reform in Georgia in decades. She said the legislation reduced the individual income tax rate for the first time since 1937, lowered the corporate tax rate for the first time since 1969 and doubled the standard deduction. Cooper said the changes were projected at the time to save Georgia taxpayers an estimated $5 billion over five years.

Education: Cooper said she supports school choice, giving parents a voice in determining the best educational option for their children. She said she will champion technical education and junior college programs.

Transportation: Cooper said she and her Republican colleagues passed HB 170, which she described as providing over $10 billion in state transportation funding over 10 years.

Economy: Cooper said she is committed to low taxes, less regulation and fiscal conservatism. She said she supports agriculture as the top industry in the state and reducing regulations on employers.

Sources: Public campaign materials, published candidate profiles and the public records linked above. Policy statements are attributed to the candidate; funding or implementation details are included where available.

The East Cobb Beacon did not receive a direct questionnaire response from the candidate and does not endorse candidates.