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To win the state House position in 2016, Cosper defeated fellow Republican Austin Ruiz, 50.44 to 49.56 percent in a runoff contest. He then defeated in the [[general election]] the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee, Sandra Jean Blankenship (born 1964) of Killeen, 28,894 (54.8 percent) to 23,794 (45.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|title=Election Results|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=November 8, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>  

To win the state House position in 2016, Cosper defeated fellow Republican Austin Ruiz, 50.44 to 49.56 percent in a runoff contest. He then defeated in the [[general election]] the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee, Sandra Jean Blankenship (born 1964) of Killeen, 28,894 (54.8 percent) to 23,794 (45.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|title=Election Results|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=November 8, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>  

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Bradley Leo "Brad" Buckley (born September 14, 1966), a Killeen veterinarian who formerly served on the board of the Killeen School District. Buckley did not make an issue of Cosper’s tenure as an embattled city official. the challenger attributed his victory to his personal style, door-to-door campaigning, and the strength of his platform. Buckley was considered no more [[conservative]] than Cosper, with both in the [[Moderate Republican]] camp.<ref name=kdh/>

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Bradley Leo "Brad" Buckley (born September 14, 1966), a veterinarian who formerly served on the board of the Killeen School District. Buckley did not make an issue of Cosper’s tenure as an embattled city official. the challenger attributed his victory to his personal style, door-to-door campaigning, and the strength of his platform. Buckley was considered no more [[conservative]] than Cosper, with both in the [[Moderate Republican]] camp.<ref name=kdh/>

Cosper had led the three-candidate GOP field with 4,472 (44.6 percent) to Buckley's 4,173 (41.6 percent). The remaining 1,390 votes (13.9 percent) went to Larry R. Smith, whose supporters were critical in the second round of balloting. Smith had also finished third in the 2016 primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Cosper was then unseated in the runoff, 3,185 votes (41.7 percent) to Buckley's 4,445 (58.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for State House District 54|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>  

Cosper had led the three-candidate GOP field with 4,472 (44.6 percent) to Buckley's 4,173 (41.6 percent). The remaining 1,390 votes (13.9 percent) went to Larry R. Smith, whose supporters were critical in the second round of balloting. Smith had also finished third in the 2016 primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Cosper was then unseated in the runoff, 3,185 votes (41.7 percent) to Buckley's 4,445 (58.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for State House District 54|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>