Tom Cotton

Thomas Bryant Cotton has served as the junior United States Senator from Arkansas since January 2015. He previously represented Arkansas's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Incumbency status: challenger

Education: A.B., Harvard University; J.D., Harvard Law School.

Residence: Dardanelle, Arkansas

Professional background

Law clerk for Judge Jerry Edwin Smith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Cooper & Kirk; management consultant at McKinsey & Company.

Public service

U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2013–2015); U.S. Senator from Arkansas (2015–present); Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Military service

U.S. Army, Captain, active duty 2005–2009; reserve 2010–2013. Served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Awarded Bronze Star Medal.

In this race