Bekki Cook

Rebecca McDowell (Bekki) Cook (July 18, 1950) is an American politician from Missouri. She served as Missouri's Secretary of State from December 1994 to January 2001.

Cook was raised near Jackson, Missouri, and attended public schools. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 1972 with a degree in political science. She received her law degree from the University of Missouri in 1975 and practiced law in Cape Girardeau.

While working in private law practice, Cook was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Education by Governor John Ashcroft. She was subsequently re-appointed by Governor Mel Carnahan. In December 1994, Carnahan appointed Cook as Missouri's Secretary of State. Cook succeeded Judi Moriarty who had been impeached and removed from office following a scandal.

A few weeks into her term, Cook was embroiled in her own controversy. One of the Secretary of State's duties is to preside over the opening session of the Missouri House of Representatives until the body elects its officers. Democratic Speaker of the House Bob Griffin was facing a challenge from Republicans and six Democratic allies who hoped to oust him as Speaker. In the initial balloting, it appeared that Griffin's opponents had the votes to succeed. However, Cook held the voting open while Griffin's allies persuaded enough Democrats to change their votes for Griffin to remain in office. The incident prompted a great deal of controversy and has been raised by Cook's opponents in her subsequent campaigns.

In 1996, Cook was elected to a full term as Secretary of State. She chose not to seek re-election in 2000. In 2004, Cook ran for Lieutenant Governor and won a contested primary to become the Democratic nominee. However, she was defeated by less than 1% of the vote in the general election by Republican Peter Kinder. Cook is married to Cape Girardeau attorney John Larkin Cook. They have two children.