{ "id": "eps6gj75pb", "slug": "cole-jester", "title": "Cole Jester", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders.secretaries-of-state", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Secretaries of state", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders.secretaries-of-state", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders", "label": "State executive officeholders", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders.secretaries-of-state", "label": "Secretaries of state", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders.secretaries-of-state" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Cole Jester is an American Republican politician serving as Arkansas Secretary of State since 2025, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to fill John Thurston's term.", "snippet": "Cole Jester is an American Republican politician serving as Arkansas Secretary of State since 2025, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to fill John Thurston's term.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-executive-officeholders.secretaries-of-state", "markdown": "# Cole Jester\n\nCole Jester is an American politician and Republican who has served as Secretary of State of Arkansas since 2025.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) • [2](https://ballotpedia.org/Cole_Jester) Appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to fill the remaining two years of John Thurston's term, he previously served as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) In 2026 he won the Republican primary for Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands and is a candidate in the November 2026 general election.[3](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/03/jester-set-to-win-republican-primary-for-land-commissioner/) • [4](https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/sep/26/open-race-for-arkansas-land-commissioner-draws/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Republican[2](https://ballotpedia.org/Cole_Jester) |\n| Current office | Secretary of State of Arkansas (since 2025)[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) |\n| Previous offices | Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) |\n| Education | Ouachita Baptist University; University of Virginia School of Law[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nJester is a Republican.[2](https://ballotpedia.org/Cole_Jester) He ran for Commissioner of State Lands as the Republican Party's nominee in 2026.[4](https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/sep/26/open-race-for-arkansas-land-commissioner-draws/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nJester is a Benton, Arkansas native who graduated valedictorian of Benton High School.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) He graduated summa cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in Christian Studies as well as political science, and received his [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of The Journal of Law and Politics.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) While attending law school, he clerked for the firm of Friday, Eldridge, & Clark, worked for the [United States Air Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-air-force), and argued criminal cases in Virginia district court.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) He is married to Elizabeth and is the father of a daughter, Charlotte.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state)\n\n## Career\n\nBefore joining the Governor's Office, Jester worked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) He then served two years as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, where, according to his official biography, he spearheaded efforts to stop the [Chinese Communist Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/chinese-communist-party) from buying Arkansas farmland, worked to reduce hundreds of government regulations, and oversaw litigation against technology companies focusing on their intentionally addictive designs.[5](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/about-the-office/coles-biography/)\n\nGovernor Sanders appointed Jester Secretary of State, effective January 1, 2025, to fulfill the remaining two years of John Thurston's term after Thurston was elected Treasurer of State.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) Jester was sworn in as Arkansas' 35th Secretary of State at a ceremony at the State Capitol, with Supreme Court Associate Justice Cody Hiland administering the oath.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) His office has focused on election security and streamlining corporate filings.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nIn March 2026, Jester won the Republican primary for Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands.[3](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/03/jester-set-to-win-republican-primary-for-land-commissioner/) In the November 2026 general election, he faces Libertarian candidate Christopher Olson.[4](https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/sep/26/open-race-for-arkansas-land-commissioner-draws/)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Election integrity\n\nAt his swearing-in, Jester said, \"I want to make Arkansas a model for the nation in the areas of election integrity, Capitol security, and government efficiency and service.\"[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) His office states that, under his tenure, Arkansas has moved from number eight to number one in the nation for election security.[5](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/about-the-office/coles-biography/)\n\n### Government efficiency\n\nJester has made government efficiency and service a stated priority of his office, saying at his swearing-in that his office \"will lead with bold, conservative, and principled ideas.\"[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state) As Secretary of State, he has focused on what his office describes as intentional service to the people of Arkansas through streamlining corporate filings.[1](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Cole Jester Sworn In as Arkansas' 35th Secretary of State](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/news/detail/cole-jester-sworn-in-as-arkansas-35th-secretary-of-state)\n2. [Cole Jester - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cole_Jester)\n3. [Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester wins GOP land commissioner primary](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/03/jester-set-to-win-republican-primary-for-land-commissioner/)\n4. [Open race for Arkansas land commissioner draws Libertarian Christopher Olson, Republican Cole Jester](https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/sep/26/open-race-for-arkansas-land-commissioner-draws/)\n5. [Cole Jester biography - Arkansas Secretary of State](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/about-the-office/coles-biography/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State executive officeholders › Secretaries of state*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Cole Jester\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Cole Jester](https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester](https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Cole Jester\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-jester. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Cole Jester is an American Republican politician serving as Arkansas Secretary of State since 2025, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to fill John Thurston's term." }