Tom Cotton

Thomas Bryant "Tom" Cotton (born May 13, 1977) is an American politician who is the junior United States Senator from Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, Cotton has served in the Senate since January 3, 2015.

In August 2013, Cotton announced his intentions to run for the United States Senate in a challenge against two-term Democratic Senator Mark Pryor. Cotton won in an unopposed Republican primary and prevailed in the general election, obtaining 56% of the vote to Pryor's 39%. At 38, he is currently the youngest U.S. Senator.

Early life and education

Cotton was born on May 13, 1977 in Dardanelle, Arkansas, the son of Avis (née Bryant) and Thomas Leonard Cotton, and grew up on the family farm. Cotton graduated from Dardanelle High School in June 1995. He attended Harvard College, where he wrote for the Harvard Crimson, graduating in 1998.

In summer 1997, Cotton attended the Publius Fellowship program of the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank. He graduated from Harvard in 1998, three years after enrolling.