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United States Army Command and General Staff College}}

United States Army Command and General Staff College}}

'''Kenny Ray Cox''' (born October 2, 1957)<ref name=pvs/> is a retired [[United States Army]] [[lieutenant colonel]] from Mansfield, [[Louisiana]], who is an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] state representative for [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Red River, and DeSoto  parishes in the northwestern portion of his state.

'''Kenny Ray Cox''' (born October 2, 1957)<ref name=pvs/> is a retired [[United States Army]] [[lieutenant colonel]] from Mansfield, [[Louisiana]], who is an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] state representative for [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Red River, and DeSoto  parishes in the northwestern portion of his state.

==Background==

==Background==

In the October 22 primary, Nowlin had narrowly led with 5,662 votes (43.6 percent), and Cox trailed with 5,506 votes (42.4 percent). Another Democrat, Ralph Wilson, who also sought the seat in 2007, held the remaining but critical 1,805 ballots (13.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Nowlin's defeat is attributed in part to his District 23 having  become a majority African- American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>"Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' October 23, 2011.</ref>

In the October 22 primary, Nowlin had narrowly led with 5,662 votes (43.6 percent), and Cox trailed with 5,506 votes (42.4 percent). Another Democrat, Ralph Wilson, who also sought the seat in 2007, held the remaining but critical 1,805 ballots (13.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Nowlin's defeat is attributed in part to his District 23 having  become a majority African- American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>"Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' October 23, 2011.</ref>

In 2007, Cox ran unsuccessfully in House District 7 against the Republican [[Richard Burford]] of Stonewall in DeSoto Parish, who was subsequently re-elected in the 2011 primary and became for a time a colleague of Cox. Burford left the House ro run unsuccessfully for the state Senate seat vacated by the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]], Sherri Smith Buffington.

In 2007, Cox ran unsuccessfully in House District 7 against the Republican [[Richard Burford]] of Stonewall in DeSoto Parish, who was subsequently re-elected in the 2011 primary and became for a time a colleague of Cox. Burford left the House ro run unsuccessfully for the state Senate seat vacated by the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]], [[Sherri Smith Buffington]].

Representative Cox is a member of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, the Rural Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus. He sits on these committees: (1) Commerce, (2) Health and Welfare, (3) Labor and Industrial Relations, (4) Military and Veterans Affairs.<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/93641/kenny-cox#.VTG0OcstEqR|title=Kenny Ray Cox|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref>

Representative Cox is a member of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, the Rural Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus. He sits on these committees: (1) Commerce, (2) Health and Welfare, (3) Labor and Industrial Relations, (4) Military and Veterans Affairs.<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/93641/kenny-cox#.VTG0OcstEqR|title=Kenny Ray Cox|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref>