Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) is emerging as a prominent contender to join former President Donald Trump on the Republican presidential lineup this November.

Cotton has served as the junior U.S. senator from Arkansas since 2015. 

Age

Cotton was born on May 13, 1977. He is 47 years old.

Career

In 2013, he was elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Arkansas’s 4th Congressional District.

After graduating from Harvard and Harvard Law School, Cotton worked with the U.S. Court of Appeals and in a private law practice.

In 2005, he enlisted and served nearly five years on active duty in the Army as an infantry officer.

During his time in the military, he served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. 

Between his two combat tours, he also served with the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Cotton was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Ranger Tab for his military service. 

Prior to his political career, he worked for McKinsey and Company, a business management consulting firm.

Cotton is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in which he serves as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism; the Senate Intelligence Committee; the Senate Armed Services Committee, in which he serves as the ranking member of the Airland Subcommittee; and the Joint Economic Committee.

Family

Cotton grew up on his family’s cattle farm in Yell County, Arkansas. His father had a long career at the Arkansas Department of Health, and his mother was the principal of Dardanelle Middle School.

He and his wife Anna have two sons, Gabriel and Daniel.

Religion

He is a Methodist and anti-abortion advocate who has railed against taxpayer-funded abortion and late-term abortion. He has emphasized the importance of safeguarding Arkansans’ freedom to exercise their faith.

Net worth

Cotton’s net worth, at around $500,000, is comparatively modest for a senator, falling below the average net worth of a U.S. representative.

Books

Cotton is the author of two books: Only the Strong: Reversing the Left’s Plot to Sabotage American Power and Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Major policy initiatives

While Cotton is known for being one of President Joe Biden‘s main critics, he is also recognized for his conflicts with his fellow Republicans. For instance, he opposed the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” immigration bill and worked with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to block Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election in Congress.

Cotton embodies a Reaganite perspective, reminiscent of the 1980s. He consistently advocates tough stances, from tightening immigration laws and promoting a strong foreign policy to addressing what he perceives as inadequate incarceration rates. He supports a small-government stance on most topics yet maintains a strong position on national security.

Additionally, Cotton has opposed the Iran nuclear deal and has endorsed a tougher approach toward China.

Relationship with Trump

“I’m confident [President Trump] is going to make a good choice for the ticket and the party, more importantly, for the country,” Cotton said in an interview with Fox News. “I’m focused on helping him win this election and helping Republicans win that majority in the Congress so we can begin to reverse the damage that Joe Biden has inflicted on this country for four years.”

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Cotton and Trump had a close working relationship during the former president’s time in office, working on topics such as immigration, and were aligned on the conservative populism largely linked to the modern Republican Party.

However, Cotton’s refusal to join other Republicans in challenging the 2020 Electoral College results upset Trump, who warned Cotton that Republican voters “never forget.”