Editing Thad Cochran

{{Short description|American attorney and politician (1937–2019)}}
{{About|the U.S. senator from Mississippi|other people with a similar name|William Cochran (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Senator Cochran}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Thad Cochran
|image        = Thad Cochran official photo.jpg
|jr/sr        = United States Senator
|state        = [[Mississippi]]
|term_start   = December 27, 1978
|term_end     = April 1, 2018
|predecessor  = [[James Eastland]]
|successor    = [[Cindy Hyde-Smith]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
|office1      = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]
|term_start1  = January 3, 2015
|term_end1    = April 1, 2018
|predecessor1 = [[Barbara Mikulski]]
|successor1   = [[Richard Shelby]]
|term_start2  = January 3, 2005
|term_end2    = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Ted Stevens]]
|successor2   = [[Robert Byrd]]
|office3      = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]]
|term_start3  = January 3, 2003
|term_end3    = January 3, 2005
|predecessor3 = [[Tom Harkin]]
|successor3   = [[Saxby Chambliss]]
|office4      = [[Republican Conference Chairman of the United States Senate|Chair of the Senate Republican Conference]]
|leader4      = [[Bob Dole]]<br>[[Trent Lott]]
|term_start4  = January 3, 1991
|term_end4    = January 3, 1997
|predecessor4 = [[John Chafee]]
|successor4   = [[Connie Mack III]]
|office5      = [[Republican Conference Vice-Chair of the United States Senate|Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference]]
|leader5      = [[Bob Dole]]
|term_start5  = January 3, 1985
|term_end5    = January 3, 1991
|predecessor5 = [[Jake Garn]]
|successor5   = [[Bob Kasten]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
|state6       = [[Mississippi]]
|district6    = {{ushr|MS|4|4th}}
|term_start6  = January 3, 1973
|term_end6    = December 26, 1978
|predecessor6 = [[Charles H. Griffin]] (Redistricting)
|successor6   = [[Jon Hinson]]
|birth_name   = William Thad Cochran
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1937|12|7}}
|birth_place  = [[Pontotoc, Mississippi]], U.S.
|death_date   = {{death date and age|2019|5|30|1937|12|7}}
|death_place  = [[Oxford, Mississippi]], U.S.
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (1967–2019)
|otherparty   = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (before 1967)
|spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Rose Clayton|1964|2014|reason=died}}
* {{marriage|Kay Webber|2015}}
}}
|children     = 2
|education    = [[University of Mississippi]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|website      = {{URL|cochran.senate.gov|Senate website}}
|allegiance   = {{flag|United States}}
|branch       = {{flag|United States Navy}}
|serviceyears = 1959–1961
|rank         = [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]]
|signature    = Thad Cochran signature.png
|module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Thad Cochran Opens a Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Gulf Coast Supplemental Appropriations.ogg|title=Thad Cochran's voice|type=speech|description=Thad Cochran opens a [[Senate Appropriations Committee]] hearing on funding for [[Gulf Coast]] recovery after [[Hurricane Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Wilma|Wilma]]<br/>Recorded March 8, 2006}}
}}
'''William Thad Cochran''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|k|r|ə|n}} {{respell|KOK|rən}}; December 7, 1937 – May 30, 2019) was an American attorney and politician who served as a [[United States Senate|United States senator]] for [[Mississippi]] from 1978 to 2018. A [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], he previously served in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from 1973 to 1978.

Born in [[Pontotoc, Mississippi]], Cochran graduated from the [[University of Mississippi]].  He served in the [[United States Navy]] as an [[Ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]] (1959–1961) before graduating from the [[University of Mississippi School of Law]].  After practicing law for several years in [[Jackson, Mississippi]], he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1972|in 1972]]. He served three terms in the House representing Jackson and portions of southwest Mississippi.

Cochran won a three-way race for U.S. Senate [[United States Senate election in Mississippi, 1978|in 1978]], becoming the first Republican to win a United States Senate election in Mississippi since [[Blanche Bruce]] was elected during [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FHYUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5984,2906813&dq=thad+cochran&hl=en|title=Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2018-07-04}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  He was re-elected to six terms by wide margins. He was chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]] from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2018.  He also chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]] from 2003 to 2005.  With over 45 years of combined House and Senate service, Cochran is the [[List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service|second longest-serving]] member of Congress ever from Mississippi, only after former [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] U.S. Representative [[Jamie Whitten|Jamie L. Whitten]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Anthony |title=Remembering Senator Thad Cochran 1937 – 2019 |url=https://www.wjtv.com/news/politics/remembering-senator-thad-cochran-1937-2019/ |website=wjtv.com |date=June 21, 2019 |publisher=Nexstar Media Inc. |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

Cochran resigned from the Senate due to health issues in April 2018. Cochran died on May 30, 2019 in [[Oxford, Mississippi]].<ref name=":2" />

==Early life==
William Thad Cochran was born on December 7, 1937, in [[Pontotoc, Mississippi]], the son of Emma Grace (née Berry) and William Holmes Cochran, a teacher and [[school principal]], respectively. His family settled in [[Hinds County, Mississippi]], home of the state capital, [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], in 1946 after a few moves around the northern part of the state.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.msgop.org/sen-thad-cochran/ |title=Sen. Thad Cochran |work=[[Mississippi Republican Party]] |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307213103/http://www.msgop.org/sen-thad-cochran/ |archive-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> He graduated valedictorian<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weeks|first=Linton|title=Two From Ole Miss, Hitting It Big|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|location=Washington, D.C.|page=C1|date=January 7, 1999 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/olemiss010799.htm| access-date =April 17, 2010 }}</ref> from Byram High School near Jackson.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.deltastate.edu/news-and-events/2006/10/delta-state-dedicates-thad-cochran-center-for-rural-school-leadership-and-research/|title=Delta State dedicates Thad Cochran Center for Rural School Leadership and Research - Delta State University|website=www.deltastate.edu|date=October 11, 2006|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>

Cochran then received a B.A. degree from the [[University of Mississippi]] with a major in [[psychology]] and a minor in [[political science]] in 1959.<ref name=":0" /> There he joined the [[Pi Kappa Alpha]] fraternity and was on the [[cheerleading]] squad (fellow senator [[Trent Lott]] was also an Ole Miss cheerleader).<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/olemiss010799.htm |title=Ole Miss cheerleading squad| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=January 8, 1999}}</ref> He was elected to the [[Phi Kappa Phi]] honor society, and worked as a lifeguard at Livingston Lake in Jackson during the summers.<ref name="Thad Cochrane Biography">{{cite web|title=Thad Cochran Biography|url=https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography|website=Thad Cochran Senate|access-date=November 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121210254/http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography|archive-date=November 21, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

After a time in the [[United States Navy]] (1959–1961), where he was commissioned an [[Ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]] aboard the {{USS|Macon|CA-132|6}}, Cochran received a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from the [[University of Mississippi School of Law]] in 1965. While in law school, he won the Frederick Hamel Memorial Award for having the highest scholastic average in the first year class and served on the editorial board of the ''[[Mississippi Law Journal]]''. Following graduation, Cochran practiced law at the firm of Watkins & Eager in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was promoted to partner.<ref name="Thad Cochrane Biography"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Bruce |date=2019-05-31 |title=Obituary - William Thad Cochran |url=https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2019/05/31/obituary-william-thad-cochran/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=The Oxford Eagle |language=en}}</ref>

In 1968, [[Lamar Alexander]] recruited Cochran to serve as chairman of Citizens for Nixon-Agnew in Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/crec/2018/03/22/modified/CREC-2018-03-22-pt1-PgS1892-2.htm|title=U.S. Senate Floor Speech|last=Alexander|first=Lamar|date=March 22, 2018|website=Congress.gov}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:Thad Cochran 1973 Congressional photo.jpg|thumb|185px|left|Cochran during his time in the House of Representatives]]
In 1972, Jackson lawyer Mike Allred and oilman Billy Mounger, both Republicans, recruited Cochran to run for Congress as a Republican.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://epdf.tips/mississippi-politics-the-struggle-for-power-1976-2006.html|title=Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976-2006 - PDF Free Download|website=epdf.tips|language=en|access-date=2018-08-14}}</ref> That year, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Congressman [[Charles H. Griffin]] of {{ushr|Mississippi|3}} decided not to run for a third full term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pender |first1=Geoff |title='Gentleman' Thad Cochran, Mississippi's 'Quiet Persuader' in U.S. Senate, dead at 81 |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/30/thad-cochran-dies-mississippi-senator-remembered-service/1285123001/ |website=clarionledger.com |access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref> Cochran won the Republican nomination for the Jackson-based district, which was renumbered as the [[Mississippi's 4th congressional district|4th District]] after redistricting. He [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1972#Mississippi|defeated]] Democratic state senator [[Ellis B. Bodron]] by 47.9% to 44%.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Guthrie |first1=Benjamin |url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electioninfo/1972election.pdf |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972 |last2=Jennings |first2=W. Pat |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington |publication-date=1973}}</ref> One factor in Cochran's victory was [[Richard Nixon]]'s strong showing in [[1972 United States presidential election|that year's presidential election]]. Mississippi was Nixon's best state in 1972, taking 78.2 percent of the statewide popular vote. Another Republican candidate that year, Gil Carmichael, who ran for U.S. Senate against [[James Eastland]], only finished with 38 percent of the vote, largely because of Nixon steadfastly backing Eastland.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Nash |first1=Jere |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2tvg0b.10 |title=Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976-2008, Second Edition |last2=Taggart |first2=Andy |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |year=2009 |location=Oxford |pages=49–52|jstor=j.ctt2tvg0b.10 }}</ref> Another factor for Cochran's win was black turnout. Eddie McBride, a black independent candidate pulled enough black voters from Bodron to help sway the election. McBride has been recruited by Fayette Mayor Charles Evers to retaliate against Bodron who had blocked Evers' initiative to build a nursing home in Fayette.<ref name=":4" /> Cochran, alongside Trent Lott, became the second and third Republicans to be elected to represent Mississippi in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] since [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Natalie |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Former GOP Sen. Thad Cochran Dies |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-gop-sen-thad-cochran-dies-11559228518 |access-date=1 December 2019 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc.}}</ref>{{Efn|[[Prentiss Walker]] was the first in 1964.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reed |first1=Roy |title=3 House Races in Mississippi in Doubt |work=The New York Times |date=October 22, 1972 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/10/22/archives/3-house-races-in-mississippi-in-doubt.html |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>}}

In the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1974#Mississippi|1974 elections]], Cochran won in a landslide victory with 70.2 percent of the vote, winning every county besides black-majority [[Claiborne County, Mississippi|Claiborne]] and [[Jefferson County, Mississippi|Jefferson]]. He called his victory an endorsement of "my views on cutting down inflation and unnecessary spending."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saggus |first=James |date=November 6, 1974 |title=Cochran, Three Other Incumbents Win Races |work=Enterprise-Journal |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Cochran ran for reelection in the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1976#Mississippi|1976 elections]] and was predicted to easily win.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeller |first=Bob |date=November 1, 1976 |title=Incumbents Should Have Easy Congressional Race |work=Clarion-Ledger |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Cochran easily won reelection with 76% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1976 |title=Cochran, Bowen have easy time |work=The Sun |pages=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==

===Elections===

In [[1978 United States Senate election in Mississippi|1978]], six-term Democratic Senator [[James Eastland]] decided to retire. Cochran ran for the seat and won the Republican primary, defeating state senator and former [[Jones County, Mississippi|Jones County]] prosecutor [[Charles W. Pickering]], 69%–31% percent. In the general election, he faced Democrat [[Maurice Dantin]], a former district attorney who had triumphed in a four-way primary with the backing of Eastland, and [[Independent politician|Independent]] candidate [[Charles Evers]], the mayor of [[Fayette, Mississippi|Fayette]]. Evers, the first African American to be elected mayor of a Mississippi town since [[Reconstruction era in the United States|Reconstruction]], split the Democratic vote and Cochran won with a plurality, taking 45.3% to Dantin's 31.8% and Evers' 22.6%.<ref>{{Cite book| last =Black| first =Earl| title =The Rise of Southern Republicans| publisher =[[Harvard University Press]]| year =2003| page =[https://archive.org/details/riseofsouthernre00earl_0/page/118 118]| isbn =978-0-674-01248-6| url-access =registration| url =https://archive.org/details/riseofsouthernre00earl_0/page/118}}</ref> This made Cochran the first Republican to win a statewide election in Mississippi in a century and thus became Mississippi's first new U.S. senator since [[John C. Stennis]] in 1947.<ref>{{cite news| title =Results of Elections Across the Nation| newspaper =[[The Blade (Toledo)|The Blade]]| date =November 7, 1978| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FHYUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5984,2906813&dq=thad+cochran&hl=en| access-date =April 18, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Eastland resigned on 27 December to give Cochran a seniority advantage over other new incoming U.S. senators. [[List of governors of Mississippi|Governor]] [[Cliff Finch]] appointed Cochran to serve the remaining week of Eastland's term.<ref>{{cite news| agency =Associated Press| title =Eastland Quits Early To Aid His Successor| newspaper =The Blade| date =December 27, 1978| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FUAxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3152,1047304&dq=thad+cochran&hl=en| access-date =April 19, 2010 }}</ref>

Cochran faced an expected strong challenge for re-election from incumbent Democratic governor [[William Winter (politician)|William Winter]] [[1984 United States Senate election in Mississippi|in 1984]], but he was re-elected easily, 60.9 to 39.1 percent.<ref name="ourcampaigns.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3706|title=Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1984|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> He was likely helped by the presence of [[Ronald Reagan]] atop the ticket for president; Reagan carried Mississippi by an almost identical margin, 61.8 percent to [[Walter Mondale]]'s 37.4 percent.

He was completely unopposed [[1990 United States Senate election in Mississippi|in 1990]]<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3517|title=Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1990|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> and took 71 percent of the vote [[1996 United States Senate election in Mississippi|in 1996]];<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174|title=Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1996|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref> the Democratic nominee, retired factory worker{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} Bootie Hunt, received 27.4 percent.<ref name="auto2"/> No Democrat ran against Cochran [[2002 United States Senate election in Mississippi|in 2002]]; he faced only [[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform Party]] candidate Shawn O'Hara, beating him by 84.6 to 15.4 percent.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#24|title=2002 ELECTION STATISTICS |website=clerk.house.gov |access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref> Cochran faced his strongest challenger in twenty-four years [[2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi|in 2008]] when the Democrats nominated State Representative [[Erik R. Fleming]]. In a year that saw [[United States elections, 2008|widespread Democratic gains]], Cochran was still re-elected, 61.4–37.6 percent.<ref name="opinion" />

====2014 election====
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}
In 2014, Cochran faced a primary challenge from [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-supported candidate [[Chris McDaniel]]. Although the primary was initially considered uncompetitive, McDaniel proved a serious challenger. Polling showed the lead swinging between the two and it eventually became a "50%-50% race".<ref name="math">{{cite news | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/could-tea-party-win-mississippi-change-2014-math-n121136 | title= Could a Tea Party Win in Mississippi Change the 2014 Math? | work=NBC News | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>

The primary was considered a marquee establishment-versus-Tea Party fight. Cochran's seniority and appropriating skills contrasted with the junior status of the rest of the state's congressional delegation.<ref>{{cite news | title=Most Fascinating Races of 2014: Mississippi Senate | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ | work=Roll Call | date=December 26, 2012 | access-date=December 31, 2013 | author=Abby Livingston | archive-date=December 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229054747/http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> The primary was described as "nasty"<ref name=topple>{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/208000-will-mississippi-mudslinging-topple-first-senate-incumbent/ | title=Biggest Super Tuesday casualty? | work=The Hill | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Alexandra Jaffe}}</ref> and full of "bizarre" twists.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/01/miss-voters-ready-end-senate-primary/9854249 | title=Miss. voters ready for end to Senate primary | work=The Clarion-Ledger | date=June 2, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Deborah Barfield Berry}}</ref>

In May 2014, a scandal emerged when a McDaniel supporter allegedly entered a nursing home where Cochran's bedridden wife was living and took pictures of her.<ref name=topple/> The images were posted to a blog, intending to advance the rumor that Cochran was having affairs while his wife was receiving care.<ref name="bruising">{{cite news | url=http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish | title=Bruising Senate battle nears finish | work=DJournal | date=June 1, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Bobby Harrison | archive-date=June 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221245/http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-race-thad-cochran-chris-mcdaniel-wife-photo-2014-5 | title=This Is The Single Nastiest Campaign Fight In America | work=Business Insider | date=May 20, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Brett Logiurato}}</ref> Four people were arrested in connection with the incident.<ref name=bruising/> The connection to the McDaniel campaign was disputed. One of the arrested included McDaniel ally Mark Mayfield, who was vice chairman of the state's Tea Party.<ref>{{cite web | last1=OHLHEISER | first1=ABBY | title=The Bizarre Scandal That Could Tear Apart the Tea Party's Best Hope for a Primary Win | url=http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ | website=The Wire | access-date=June 8, 2014 | archive-date=May 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526135013/http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> In response, McDaniel said, "the violation of the privacy of Mrs. Cochran [was] out of bounds for politics and reprehensible."<ref>{{cite web | last1=LoGiurato | first1=Brett | title=A Top Mississippi Tea Party Official And Two Others Have Been Arrested In Connection With The Bizarre Senate Race | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-arrest-cochran-wife-photo-rose-2014-5 | website=Business Insider | date= May 22, 2014 | access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>

Neither candidate won a majority in the primary election; McDaniel won 49.46% of the vote, while Cochran received 49.02%.<ref name="FEC" /> A runoff election between McDaniel and Cochran was held on June 24.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/us/politics/cochran-and-mcdaniel-mississippi-primary-runoff.html | title=Mississippi's G.O.P. Senate Primary Headed to a Runoff | last=Martin | first=Jonathan | date=June 4, 2014 | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date=June 4, 2014}}</ref> Despite trailing in most of the polls,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/senate/ms/mississippi_senate_republican_primary_runoff-5094.html#polls | title=Polling Data | date=June 24, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=[[Real Clear Politics]]}}</ref> Cochran won with 51.01% of the vote to McDaniel's 48.99%.<ref name="FEC" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/upshot/voting-totals-reveal-crucial-boost-from-blacks-in-cochrans-victory.html?abt=0002&abg=0 | title=Precinct Data | date=July 9, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=[[The New York Times]]}}.</ref> The Cochran campaign denied allegations of vote-buying made by a blogger regarding his run-off victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2014/07/01/cochran-campaign-denies-vote-buying/11911539/ |title=Cochran campaign denies vote-buying reports |last1=Pender |first1=Geoff |date=July 2014 |website=www.clarionledger.com |publisher=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=July 2, 2014}}</ref> In the aftermath of the runoff, the McDaniel campaign claimed there were indications of voter fraud.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wagster Pettus|first1=Emmily|title=Home> Politics McDaniel Not Giving up GOP Runoff Against Cochran|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703001133/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838|archive-date=July 3, 2014}}</ref> McDaniel's legal challenge to the election results failed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chris McDaniel challenge tossed in Mississippi|date=August 29, 2014 |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/chris-mcdaniel-challenge-dismissed-mississippi-110453.html#ixzz3BpaK814B|publisher=Politico|access-date=August 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://courts.ms.gov/Images/Opinions/CO98646.pdf|title=McDaniel v. Cochran, No. 2014-EC-01247-SCT |author=Supreme Court of Mississippi |date=October 24, 2014}}</ref>

On Election Day, Cochran defeated Democratic former U.S. Rep. [[Travis Childers]], 59.90%-37.89%.<ref name="2014GeneralElection">{{cite web | url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2014-election-results/2014-general-election | title=Mississippi General Election 2014 | publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State | date=November 4, 2014 | access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/travis-childers-midterm-election-results_n_5904138|title=Travis Childers Loses Senate Race To Thad Cochran|date=November 5, 2014|website=HuffPost}}</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C4383 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Cochran with President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981]]
Generally, Cochran kept a lower national profile than conventional wisdom would suggest for someone who spent almost half a century in Washington, including seven terms in the Senate. However, he had considerable influence behind the scenes, especially in Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Merritt |title=Thad Cochran, Long-Serving Mississippi Senator, Dies At 81 |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/30/728362817/thad-cochran-long-serving-mississippi-senator-dies-at-81 |website=npr.org |date=May 30, 2019 |publisher=National Public Radio (NPR) |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>

In March 1981, after the Senate Agriculture Committee overwhelmingly approved a proposal to enact a temporary freeze on the level of dairy price supports and thereby gave President [[Ronald Reagan]] his first congressional victory for his federal spending reductions, Cochran stated that the vote was "a great victory for" Reagan and "a very important first step in having his program adopted by Congress."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/05/us/reagan-backed-by-senate-panel-on-dairy-prices.html|title=REAGAN BACKED BY SENATE PANEL ON DAIRY PRICES|date=March 5, 1981|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>

In April 1981, along with [[Bob Packwood]], [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]], [[John Heinz]], [[David Pryor]], [[Spark M. Matsunaga]], [[Donald W. Riegle Jr.]], and [[Bill Bradley]], Cochran was one of eight senators to cosponsor a bipartisan six-year experiment in care at home for the elderly and disabled for the purpose of presenting an alternative to expensive hospitals and nursing facilities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/16/us/ome-care-is-pushed-in-senate-as-alternative-to-institutions-for-the-aged.html|title=OME CARE IS PUSHED IN SENATE AS ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONS FOR THE AGED|date=April 16, 1981|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>

Cochran served as [[Republican Conference Vice-Chair of the United States Senate|Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference]] from 1985 to 1991 and as [[Republican Conference Chairman of the United States Senate|Chairman]] from 1991 to 1996. He chaired the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]] from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he was appointed as chairman of the powerful [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]], making him the first Republican from a former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate state]] to chair the committee. While Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Cochran worked to expedite the process of approving spending bills to minimize partisan skirmishing.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sen. Thad Cochran (R)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/106|access-date=August 14, 2014|magazine=National Journal}}</ref>

In June 1991, Cochran introduced legislation to establish a commission of three members appointed by the president to oversee recognition of Indian tribes and speed the tribal recognition process. Cochran said he was "supportive of trying to establish a procedure that would permit these matters to be resolved by a commission" and that it was a better alternative to seeking to "call on Congress to make decisions we're really not qualified to make."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/04/us/new-ways-to-recognize-tribes-split-indians.html|title=New Ways to Recognize Tribes Split Indians|date=August 4, 1991|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>

In June 1996, Cochran ran for the post of [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] to succeed Republican [[Bob Dole]], who had resigned from the Senate to concentrate on [[1996 United States presidential election|his presidential campaign]]. Cochran faced his Mississippi colleague [[Trent Lott]], the then-Senate Majority Whip. Cochran cast himself as an "institutionalist" and who would held to rebuild public trust in Congress through compromise over conflict. Lott promised a "more aggressive" style of leadership and courted the younger Senate conservatives. Cochran lost by 44 votes to 8.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/thad-cochran-primary-history-chris-mcdaniel-mississippi |title=What Cochran Vs. Lott Said About Today's GOP Civil War |date=June 8, 2014 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |publisher=Roll Call |author=David Hawkings |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810053550/http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/thad-cochran-primary-history-chris-mcdaniel-mississippi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:CochranThad(R-MS).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Cochran in 2007]]
On June 13, 2005, the U.S. Senate formally apologized for its failure to enact a federal anti-lynching law in the early 20th century, "when it was most needed". The resolution was passed on a voice vote with 80 senators cosponsoring. Cochran and fellow Mississippian [[Trent Lott]] were among the 20 senators who did not join as cosponsors.<ref name="senate-apology">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR2005061301720.html |title=A Senate Apology for History on Lynching |newspaper=Washington Post |last=Thomas-Lester |first=Avis |date=June 14, 2005 |access-date=June 26, 2005 |page=A12}}</ref> Cochran said, "I'm not in the business of apologizing for what someone else did or didn't do. I deplore and regret that lynching occurred and that those committing them weren't punished, but I'm not culpable".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/19/AR2005061900701.html|title=William Raspberry - A 'Sorry' Excuse From Cochran|last=Raspberry|first=William|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2005-06-20|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

In April 2006, Cochran was selected by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' as one of "America's 10 Best Senators". He was dubbed "The Quiet Persuader" for his role in winning money for the [[Gulf Coast]] in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. ''Time'' reported that Cochran managed to wring "$29 billion out of his colleagues, almost double the money [President George W.] Bush and congressional leaders had initially pledged".<ref name="cochran"/> Earlier, Cochran threatened to derail a defense appropriations bill unless it included funding for installations on the Gulf Coast. The article also noted that Cochran has "gained the trust of the [Bush] Administration and Capitol Hill for his quiet, courtly manner... using his experience and mastery of the issues to persuade his colleagues privately rather than making demands on them in public". The magazine quoted an unnamed "senior GOP Senator" who said "He doesn't get a whole lot of play in terms of coverage, but he is effectively stubborn doing what needs to be done."<ref name="cochran">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183976,00.html |title=Thad Cochran: The Quiet Persuader |magazine=Time |date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213130907/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1183976%2C00.html |archive-date=February 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In late 2017, questions began to arise over Cochran's apparently deteriorating health. He missed two weeks of the Senate session due to a urological procedure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/13/cochrans-health-issues-spark-concern-243725|title=Concerns mount over Thad Cochran's health|first1=Anna|last1=Palmer|first2=Burgess|last2=Everett|website=POLITICO|date=October 13, 2017 }}</ref> Upon his return to Washington, Cochran needed assistance locating the Senate chamber and was described by ''Politico'' as "frail" and "disoriented". On one occasion, he repeatedly voted "yes" despite being told by aides to vote "no"; he later realized his mistake and changed his vote. However, Cochran sought to defuse rumors that his retirement was imminent, saying, "Don’t believe everything you hear".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/18/thad-cochran-says-not-retiring-senate-243918|title=Frail and disoriented, Cochran says he's not retiring|author=Bresnahan, John|website=[[Politico]]|date=October 18, 2017|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref>

On March 5, 2018, Cochran announced that he would retire from the Senate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/us/politics/thad-cochran-retire-senate.html|title=Senator Thad Cochran Announces Retirement, Opening Another G.O.P. Seat|website=The New York Times|last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |last2=Martin |first2=Jonathan |date=March 5, 2018}}</ref> due to ongoing health challenges.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/05/cochran-to-resign-april-1-437126|title=Cochran resigns effective April 1|work=POLITICO|access-date=2018-07-04|language=en}}</ref> Cochran left office on April 1, 2018.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/obituaries/senator-thad-cochran-death.html|title=Thad Cochran, 81, Lawmaker Who Brought Largess to Mississippi, Dies|first=Robert D.|last=McFadden|work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> He was one of the longest-serving members of Congress in history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/mississippis-sen-thad-cochran-to-resign-from-the-senate-after-four-decade-congressional-career/2018/03/05/be8477d4-20c0-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html|title=Mississippi's Thad Cochran to resign from Senate after four-decade congressional career|last1=Sullivan |first1=Sean |last2=Kane |first2=Paul |newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Positions===
[[File:Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel meets with Senators Carl Levin (left) and Thad Cochran, April 10, 2013, at the Pentagon.jpg|left|thumb|Senators Cochran (left) and [[Carl Levin]] (right) meet with Secretary of Defense [[Chuck Hagel]] at the Pentagon to discuss the budgeting, April 10, 2013.]]
Cochran was considered to be more [[Centre-right politics|moderate]] than his Republican colleagues.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-gop-senator-most-likely-to-falter-in-the-primary-season/|title=The GOP Senator Most Likely to Falter in the Primary Season|date=2014-04-07|work=FiveThirtyEight|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[The New York Times]]'' arranged Republican senators based on ideology and reported that Cochran was the fourth most moderate Republican in their findings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/22/us/politics/senate-health-care-whip-count.html|title=Where Senators Stand on the Health Care Bill|last=Parlapiano|first=Alicia|work=The New York Times |date=June 22, 2017 |access-date=2018-07-23|language=en}}</ref> According to [[GovTrack]], Cochran was more moderate than most of his Republican colleagues being to the left of most but to the right of several others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/thad_cochran/300023|title=Thad Cochran, former Senator for Mississippi - GovTrack.us|website=GovTrack.us|language=en|access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> The non-partisan ''[[National Journal]]'' gave Senator Cochran a composite ideology score of 68% conservative and 33% liberal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/53312/thad-cochran#.W1Vm7dhKjMI|title=Thad Cochran's Ratings and Endorsements|website=votesmart.org}}</ref>

In 2005, he was one of nine senators who voted against the [[Detainee Treatment Act of 2005]], which prohibited "inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]]". The others, all Republicans, were [[Wayne Allard]], [[Kit Bond]], [[Tom Coburn]], [[Jeff Sessions]], [[Jim Inhofe]], [[Pat Roberts]], [[John Cornyn]] and [[Ted Stevens]].{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

On July 18, 2006, Cochran voted, along with 19 Republican senators, for the [[Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act]] to lift restrictions on federal funding for the research.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salter |first1=Sid |title=Cochran, Lott show courage |url=https://www.meridianstar.com/opinion/columns/cochran-lott-show-courage/article_107ed24d-3899-5018-aa4e-c1bfdbd53b83.html |website=meridianstar.com |date=August 12, 2006 |publisher=The Meridian Star |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>

In April 2010, it was reported that Cochran finished at the top of the [[Citizens Against Government Waste]]'s list of congressional earmarks, having requested a total of $490 million in earmarks.<ref>{{cite web| title =Miss. Senator Leads Congress In Earmarks| publisher =[[WAPT (TV)|WAPT]]| date =April 15, 2010| url =http://www.wapt.com/politics/23154801/detail.html| access-date =April 18, 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110723114509/http://www.wapt.com/politics/23154801/detail.html| archive-date =July 23, 2011| df =mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2012, Cochran encouraged Mississippians to prepare for the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac, saying "Taking steps now to protect people and property should help lessen the losses that might be associated with Isaac. It is important that everyone stay informed and follow emergency orders. I am confident that Mississippians have learned valuable lessons from previous storms and will work together to prepare for this newest threat, I believe Governor Bryant and others are handling emergency preparedness actions very well."<ref name="The Delta Farm Press">{{cite news|title=Cochran: Prepare now to lessen storm losses|url=http://deltafarmpress.com/management/cochran-prepare-now-lessen-storm-losses|work=The Delta Farm Press|access-date=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

==== Environment ====
In 2017, Cochran was one of 22 senators to sign a letter<ref>{{cite web|last1=Inhofe|first1=James|title=Senator|url=https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606005302/https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> to President [[Donald Trump]] urging the President to have the United States withdraw from the [[Paris Agreement]]. According to [[OpenSecrets]], Cochran had received more than $290,000 from oil, gas and coal interests since 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/01/republican-senators-paris-climate-deal-energy-donations|access-date=June 1, 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 1, 2017|title=The Republicans who urged Trump to pull out of Paris deal are big oil darlings}}</ref>

==== Gun law ====

Cochran had an A+ rating from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]] (NRA-PVF) due to his consistent voting and support of pro-gun legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} Mississippi |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/mississippi/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104211821/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/mississippi/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The NRA endorsed Cochran in the 2014 election.<ref name="Bump1005G">{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|title=Are Republican senators justified in being worried about the NRA?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/10/03/are-republican-senators-justified-in-being-worried-about-the-nra/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=October 5, 2017|date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003235346/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/10/03/are-republican-senators-justified-in-being-worried-about-the-nra|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2013, Cochran was one of forty-six senators to vote against the passing of a bill which would have expanded background checks for gun buyers. Cochran voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the passage of the bill.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/modeling-the-senates-vote-on-gun-control/ |work=The New York Times  |first=Nate |last=Silver |title=Modeling the Senate's Vote on Gun Control |date=April 18, 2013}}</ref>

Cochran voted to repeal a regulation that made it illegal for certain individuals with specific [[mental health]] diagnosis to purchase guns. The original law authorizing such regulation was passed with a unanimous vote in 2007 after the [[Virginia Tech shooting]]. Cochran claims the law infringed upon the Second Amendment rights of disabled people.<ref name="Fowler1005G">{{cite web|last1=Fowler|first1=Sarah|title=Cochran, Wicker vote to remove gun restrictions|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/02/15/mississippi-senators-vote-remove-gun-restrictions-mentally-ill/97944430/|website=USA TODAY|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==== Healthcare ====
Cochran opposed President Barack Obama's health reform legislation; he voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] in December 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 1st Session |website=www.senate.gov|access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref> and he voted against the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

==== Jefferson Davis ====
As senior senator of the state of Mississippi, Cochran was given the opportunity to use the desk of [[Jefferson Davis]], the president of the Confederacy, which Cochran accepted.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/mississippi-senators-defend-jefferson-davis-statue|title=Mississippi Senators Defend Jefferson Davis|date=June 24, 2015|website=Roll Call|access-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref> Cochran said that he was "very proud" to have Davis's desk.<ref name=":1" /> Cochran opposed attempts to remove [[Statue of Jefferson Davis (U.S. Capitol)|a statue of Davis]] from the U.S. Capitol.<ref name=":1" />

==== Martin Luther King Jr. Day ====
In 1983, [[Ronald Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]] signed into law: H.R. 3706 (98th) – A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make the [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day|birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.]], a legal public holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/98/hr3706|title=GovTrack: H.R. 3706 (98th): A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday.|website=GovTrack}}</ref> Cochran, a Republican, voted for the act. His colleague in the Senate from Mississippi, Democrat [[John C. Stennis]], voted against the act.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html|title=SENATE'S ROLL-CALL VOTE ON KING HOLIDAY|last=AP|work=The New York Times |date=October 20, 1983 |access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}</ref>

==== Trade ====
In January 2018, Cochran was one of thirty-six Republican senators to sign a letter to President Trump requesting he preserve the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] by modernizing it for the economy of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/|title=Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA|date=January 30, 2018|first=Vicki|last=Needham|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

===Staff===

*[[Mississippi State University]] president [[Mark E. Keenum|Mark Keenum]] served as Cochran's chief-of-staff.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reflector-online.com/news/article_7c64df32-44f7-11e8-97e9-c708e9d42870.html|title=President Trump appoints Mark Keenum as BIFAD chairman|first=Katie |last=Poe |work=The Reflector|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Delta State University]] president William LaForge served as Cochran's chief-of-staff.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://msbusiness.com/2018/07/laforge-leads-delta-state-into-the-future/|title=LaForge leads Delta State into the future - Mississippi Business Journal|date=2018-07-27|work=Mississippi Business Journal|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 1973, Cochran hired Nehemiah Flowers Jr.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=July 30, 1973|title=Fates and Fortunes|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1973/1973-07-30-BC.pdf|journal=Broadcasting}}</ref> from [[WLBT]], where he was Mississippi's first black television executive.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2010/01/msu-welcomes-retired-us-lawman-mlk-tribute-day/|title=MSU welcomes retired U.S. lawman for MLK tribute day|date=2010-01-05|work=Mississippi State University|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Flowers was the first African-American congressional staffer in Mississippi since Reconstruction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McConnell|first=Mitch|date=March 22, 2018|title=Floor Speech|journal=Congressional Record - Senate}}</ref> Flowers remained on Cochran's staff until 2002, when Cochran recommended him and President [[George W. Bush]] nominated him to become U.S. Marshal for Mississippi's Southern District.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011213-13.html|title=Nominations|website=georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-15}}</ref> He remained in that position until 2010.<ref name="auto" />
*[[AT&T]] Mississippi president R. Mayo Flint III formerly served on Cochran's staff.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=31043956&privcapId=100231|title=Executive Profile|work=Bloomberg}}</ref>

===Sponsored legislation===
*The [[Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013 (S. 304; 113th Congress)]] ({{USBill|113|s|304}}) is a bill that was sponsored and actively lobbied for by Thad Cochran during the [[113th United States Congress]].<ref name="natdem1"/><ref name=304sum>{{cite web|title=S. 304 - Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/304|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=September 13, 2013}}</ref>  The bill would require the [[National Park Service]] (NPS) to convey about 67 acres of property in the Natchez Trace Parkway to the state of Mississippi. The legislation also would adjust the boundaries of the parkway to include 10 additional acres.<ref name=cbo304>{{cite web|title=CBO - S. 304 |date=July 26, 2013 |url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44462 |publisher=Congressional Budget Office|access-date=September 13, 2013}}</ref>  The two pieces of land in question originally belonged to Mississippi, and were donated to the National Park Service when the NPS was trying to determine where to end the Natchez Trace Parkway.<ref name=natdem1>{{cite news|title=Congress passes bill to give city 'bean field' property |url=http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2013/09/11/congress-passes-bill-to-give-city-bean-field-property/|access-date=September 13, 2013 |newspaper=Natchez Democrat|date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name=gop304>{{cite web|title=House Republican Conference's Legislative Digest on S 304|url=https://www.gop.gov/bill/113/1/s304|publisher=House Republican Conference|access-date=September 13, 2013 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107063437/http://www.gop.gov/bill/113/1/s304|archive-date=January 7, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Since the NPS did not choose to use either of the pieces of land, the state would like the land back.<ref name="gop304"/>
*The [[Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 (S. 2363; 113th Congress)]], a bill related to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the United States, aimed at improving "the public's ability to enjoy the outdoors."<ref name=WickerPRJune17>{{cite web|title=Wicker, Cochran Sign on to Sportsmen's Legislative Package|url=http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2014/6/wicker-cochran-sign-on-to-sportsmen-s-legislative-package|publisher=Office of Senator Wicker|access-date=June 20, 2014|date=June 17, 2014}}</ref> Cochran supported the bill, arguing that the bill "deserves broad support for its policies and reforms that will protect and enhance opportunities to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors."<ref name="WickerPRJune17"/> 
*Cochran was the lead sponsor of "The Cochran-Inouye National Missile Defense Act of 1999." The policy sought to counter emerging missile threats from China, North Korea, Iran, and Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/the-cochran-inouye-national-missile-defense-act-historic-opportunity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815201309/https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/the-cochran-inouye-national-missile-defense-act-historic-opportunity|url-status=unfit|archive-date=August 15, 2018|title=The Cochran-Inouye National Missile Defense Act: An Historic Opportunity|last=Moore|first=Thomas|website=The Heritage Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-15}}</ref> The policy was enacted into law on July 22, 1999, as incorporated into a House version of the bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/s257|title=National Missile Defense Act of 1999 (1999 - S. 257)|website=GovTrack.us|language=en|access-date=2018-08-15}}</ref> The act stated: <blockquote>It is the policy of the United States to deploy as soon as is technologically possible an effective National Missile Defense system capable of defending the territory of the United States against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate) with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for National Missile Defense.</blockquote>

===Committee assignments===
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]]''' (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade|Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade]]
**[[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources|Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources]]
**[[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy|Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]''' (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]] (ex officio)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]] (ex officio)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]] 
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch|Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch]] (ex officio)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]] (ex officio) 
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]] (ex officio) 
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]] (ex officio) 
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''

===Caucus memberships===
*House/Senate International Education Study Group (Co-Chair)
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
*Republican Task Force to Study the Energy Crisis
*[[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|publisher=Afterschool Alliance|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>
*Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus

==Personal life and death==
In 1964, Cochran married Rose Clayton. The couple have two children. Rose Cochran died in 2014.<ref name=1stwifeobit>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/12/thad-cochran-wife-rose-cochran-dies/20298599/ |title=Wife of GOP Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi dies| work=USA Today | date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2015}}</ref>

On May 23, 2015, Cochran married longtime aide Kay Webber in a private ceremony in [[Gulfport, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2015/05/25/thad-cochran-marries-kay-webber/27912807/|title=Cochran marries longtime aide Kay Webber|website=ClarionLedger.com |date=May 25, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>

Fourteen months after his resignation from the Senate, Cochran died on May 30, 2019, in [[Oxford, Mississippi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/longtime-mississippi-republican-sen-thad-cochran-dead-at-81 |title=Longtime Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran dead at 81 |last=Pappas |first=Alex |date=2019-05-30 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |access-date=2019-05-30}}</ref> The cause of death was [[renal failure]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/thad-cochran-mississippi-republican-and-former-senate-appropriations-chairman-dies-at-81/2019/05/30/af3e96fa-b802-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html|title=Thad Cochran, Mississippi Republican and former Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, dies at 81|first=Emily|last=Langer|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which was signed into law on March 23, 2018, named the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi after Cochran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1625/actions|title=Actions - H.R.1625 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018|last=Edward|first=Royce|date=2018-03-23|website=www.congress.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-15}}</ref> The courthouse-naming provision of the act was included by Senator [[Patrick Leahy]] of Vermont,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/28470fb5035e41cfb2b551eee337e514|title=US Courthouse in Jackson named for retired Sen. Cochran|work=AP News|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US}}</ref> who served as the ranking Democrat on the committee and considered Cochran his closest friend in the Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/22/thad-cochran-senators-bid-farewell-great-persuader/449330002/|title=Senators bid farewell to Cochran, the 'Quiet Persuader'|work=The Clarion Ledger|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}</ref> On August 9, 2018, a ceremony was held to recognize the naming of the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in [[Jackson, Mississippi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/0e103282b9b74d18ab77f5e0340fe708|title=US courthouse in Mississippi named for former Sen. Cochran|date=9 Aug 2018|work=Associated Press}}</ref>

On May 12, 2018, the University of Mississippi gave Cochran the Mississippi Humanitarian Award, given "to exceptional figures who have played a major role in shaping the state."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olemissalumni.com/alumni-profile-thad-cochran-honored-with-mississippi-humanitarian-award/|title=University Honors Thad Cochran with Mississippi Humanitarian Award|date=May 12, 2018|website=University of Mississippi}}</ref>

In 2018, a report indicated that Cochran's official papers were to be housed in the Modern Political Archives at the University of Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.olemiss.edu/cochrans-papers-provide-insight-biggest-issues-since-1972/|title=Cochran's Papers Shine Light on Nation's Major Issues - Ole Miss News|date=2018-06-27|work=Ole Miss News|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

In recognition of Cochran's military and civil service, the US Navy posthumously named the [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer]] [[USS Thad Cochran (DDG-135)|USS ''Thad Cochran'' (DDG-135)]] after him in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-13 |title=Navy to name ship after the late Sen. Cochran of Mississippi |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-a8269f21705e4310a39f39e2c8fdc938 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Naval News |date=2023-11-16 |title=HII Begins Fabrication of Destroyer Thad Cochran (DDG 135) |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/11/hii-begins-fabrication-of-destroyer-thad-cochran-ddg-135/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
===U.S. Senate===
====1978====
{{main|1978 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 1978<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5320|title=Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link|
   |party = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate =  Thad Cochran
   |votes =  267,302
   |percentage =  45.3
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate = Maurice Dantin
   |votes = 187,541
   |percentage = 31.8
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Independent (politician)
   |candidate = Charles Evers
   |votes = 133,646
   |percentage = 22.6
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Independent (politician)
   |candidate = Henry Jay Kirksey
   |votes = 1,747
   |percentage = 0.3
   |change = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

====1984====
{{main|1984 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 1984<ref name="ourcampaigns.com"/>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link|
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  =  Thad Cochran (incumbent)
   |votes      =  580,314
   |percentage =  60.9
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[William Winter (politician)|William Winter]]
   |votes      = 371,926
   |percentage = 39.1
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

====1990====
{{main|1990 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 1990<ref name="auto3"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate =  Thad Cochran (incumbent)
 |votes =  274,244
 |percentage =  100.00
 |change =
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      = 274,244
  |percentage = 100.00
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 274,244
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

====1996====
{{main|1996 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 1996<ref name="auto2"/>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link|
   |party = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate =  Thad Cochran (incumbent)
   |votes =  624,154
   |percentage =  71.0
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate = James W. "Bootie" Hunt
   |votes = 240,647
   |percentage = 27.4
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Independent (United States)
   |candidate = [[Ted Weill]]
   |votes = 13,861
   |percentage = 1.6
   |change = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

====2002====
{{main|2002 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 2002<ref name="auto1"/>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link|
   |party = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate =  Thad Cochran (incumbent)
   |votes =  533,269
   |percentage =  84.58
   |change = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Reform Party of the United States of America
   |candidate = Shawn O'Hara
   |votes = 97,226
   |percentage = 15.42
   |change = 
 }}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes = 436,043
  |percentage = 69.16
  |change = 
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes = 630,495
  |percentage = 
  |change = 
}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| colspan=5 |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] '''hold'''
|-
{{Election box end}}

====2008====
{{main|2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

{{Election box begin | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 2008<ref name="opinion">{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2008/08%20Certification%20Results/Cert/US%20Senate%20Regular.pdf|title=US Senate Election Official Certification|publisher=[[Mississippi Secretary of State]]|access-date=January 10, 2009}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate =  Thad Cochran (incumbent)
 |votes =  766,111
 |percentage =  61.44%
 |change = -23.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Erik Fleming
 |votes = 480,915
 |percentage = 38.56%
 |change = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 285,196
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 1,247,026
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
  |winner     = Republican Party (US)
  |loser      = 
  |swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

====2014====
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Mississippi U.S. Senate Republican primary election, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2014-election-results/2014-republican-primary |title=2014 primary election results|publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State|date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref><ref name="FEC">{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2014senate.pdf|title=Official Election Results for United States Senate, 2014 |website=FEC.gov |access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|'''+%'''
|-
|'''Republican'''
|'''Chris McDaniel'''
|'''157,733'''
|'''49.46%'''
|
|-
|'''Republican'''
|'''Thad Cochran (incumbent)'''
|'''156,315'''
|'''49.02%'''
|
|-
|Republican
|Thomas Carey
|4,854
|1.52%
|
|}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Mississippi U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff election, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2014-election-results/2014-republican-primary-runoff |title=2014 primary runoff election results|publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State|date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref><ref name="FEC" />
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|'''+%'''
|-
|'''Republican'''
|'''Thad Cochran (incumbent)'''
|'''194,972'''
|'''51.01%'''
|
|-
|Republican
|Chris McDaniel
|187,249
|48.99%
|
|}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Mississippi U.S. Senate election, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2014-election-results/2014-general-election |title=2014 General Elections|publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State|date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = Thad Cochran (incumbent)
  | votes = 378,481
  | percentage = 59.90
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = [[Travis Childers]]
  | votes = 239,439
  | percentage = 37.89
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Reform Party (United States)
  | candidate = Shawn O'Hara
  | votes = 13,938
  | percentage = 2.21
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 631,858
  | percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=c000567 | votesmart=53312 | fec=S8MS00055 | congress=thad-cochran/213 }}
*{{C-SPAN|1200}}
;Articles
*[http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNarchive/2008/GCNfeatureThadCochran.htm An Unlikely Revolutionary, Part I] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000112/http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNarchive/2008/GCNfeatureThadCochran.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }} and [http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNfeatureThadCochranPt2.htm II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082356/http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNfeatureThadCochranPt2.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }}, Interview and extensive background to comments by Perry Hicks for ''GulfCoastNews.com''

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sonny Montgomery]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Mississippi|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Mississippi's 4th congressional district]]|years=1973–1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jon Hinson]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gil Carmichael]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from Mississippi|U.S. Senator]] from [[Mississippi]]<br>([[Classes of United States senators|Class 2]])|years=[[1978 United States Senate election in Mississippi|1978]], [[1984 United States Senate election in Mississippi|1984]], [[1990 United States Senate election in Mississippi|1990]], [[1996 United States Senate election in Mississippi|1996]], [[2002 United States Senate election in Mississippi|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi|2014]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cindy Hyde-Smith]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jake Garn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Conference Vice-Chair of the United States Senate|Secretary of the Senate Republican Conference]]|years=1985–1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Kasten]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Chafee]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Conference Chairman of the United States Senate|Chair of the Senate Republican Conference]]|years=1991–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Connie Mack III|Connie Mack]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Eastland]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States senators from Mississippi|U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Mississippi]]|years=1978–2018|alongside=[[John C. Stennis|John Stennis]], [[Trent Lott]], [[Roger Wicker]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cindy Hyde-Smith]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Tom Harkin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]]|years=2003–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Saxby Chambliss]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ted Stevens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]|years=2005–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Robert Byrd]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Byrd]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]|years=2007–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Richard Shelby]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Pat Roberts]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Agriculture Committee]]|years=2013–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Debbie Stabenow]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Barbara Mikulski]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]|years=2015–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Richard Shelby]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{notelist}}
{{USSenMS}}
{{US Senate Republican Conference Chairs}}
{{SenAgricultureCommitteeChairmen}}
{{SenAppropriationsCommitteeChairs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochran, Thad}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Jackson, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Mississippi Democrats]]
[[Category:Mississippi Republicans]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Mississippi state senators]]
[[Category:People from Pontotoc, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Politicians from Jackson, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:University of Mississippi School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Baptists from Mississippi]]
[[Category:People from Oxford, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney failure in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Baptists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Lakandula]]
[[Category:Members of Phi Kappa Phi]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]