RepublicanIn office since Nov 2018

Bobby W. McCool

Kentucky State Representative, District 97 since 2018. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Kentucky State Representative, District 97Born 1959

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 7 yrs; Since 2018
Bills became law: 6; 31 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 15.8%; Chamber median 7.5%
With party: 94%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +56.9; Won 2020
Next election: 2028; Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection · co-chair
Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection · chair
Education
Government Contract Review
Natural Resources and Energy
Natural Resources and Energy
Postsecondary Education
Transportation
Transportation

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 31 sponsored · 6 became law

BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw

HB 67 AN ACT relating to schools and declaring an emergency.
Children And Minors · Became law Apr 2026

HB 178 AN ACT relating to the psychiatric collaborative care model.
Administrative Regulations And Proceedings · Became law Apr 2026

HB 176 AN ACT relating to prior authorization.
Actuarial Analysis · Became law Apr 2026

HB 5 AN ACT relating to prison educational programs.
Administrative Regulations And Proceedings · Became law Apr 2026

HB 266 AN ACT relating to healthcare credentials eligible for the Kentucky healthcare workforce investment fund.
Education, Higher · Became law Apr 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where McCool sits in the Kentucky House of Representatives

McCool is closer to the center than 95% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Tom Smith, Patrick Flannery, John Blanton

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET

With McCool’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans94%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: McCool’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	McCool	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Apr 15, 2026	HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 70–22
Apr 14, 2026	HB 379: AN ACT relating to postsecondary education.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 80–17
Apr 14, 2026	HB 142: AN ACT relating to depredating wildlife and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 86–11
Apr 14, 2026	HB 904: AN ACT relating to gaming.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 67–7
Apr 14, 2026	HB 652: AN ACT relating to critical facility mapping and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 81–17

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time McCool was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

201220142016201820202022202420262028Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	Kentucky House District 97	Won	—	R+74.1	—
2024	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Won	—	—	—
2022	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Won	—	—	—
2020	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Won	R+56.9	—	—
2018	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Won	R+15.5	—	—
2014	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Lost	D+26.3	—	—
2014	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97 (primary)	Won	+3.7	—	—
2012	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97	Lost	D+18.1	—	—