At the end of March, the Notre Dame College Democrats chapter took part in a gratifying educational trip to Washington, D.C., to see democracy in action. Twenty of the club’s dedicated members met with public service leaders, including former ambassador and Notre Dame alumnus Mark Toner, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, current DNC Vice Chair Artie Blanco, Senate Majority PAC President J.B. Poersch and former federal prosecutor and current congressional candidate J.P. Cooney. J.P. Cooney was an especially remarkable speaker — not just because of his senior role in special prosecutor Jack Smith’s investigation of President Donald Trump — but because of his history as a leader of the Notre Dame College Democrats.
As president of the Notre Dame College Democrats, Cooney fought for students’ rights, particularly LGBTQ+ rights. GLND/SMC (Gays and Lesbians at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College) was an unofficial campus organization in the ’80s and ’90s. The University refused to recognize this organization, because recognition would, in the opinion of then-vice president of student affairs, David Tyson, C.S.C., be “an implicit sanction for a homosexual lifestyle.” However, in the years following this statement, under the helm of Cooney, the Notre Dame College Democrats petitioned multiple student government groups to support student rights after the University denied the Notre Dame College Democrats’ request to approve a demonstration for National Coming Out Day. In 2012, these efforts were finally successful, and the University approved the creation of a formally recognized LGBTQ+ student organization, demonstrating the power of on-campus organizing. With a collective effort, students successfully influenced the University administration.
Beyond his work on behalf of students’ rights, Cooney was known for reaching across the aisle and looking past party affiliation. When he led the Notre Dame College Democrats, the club held events alongside the Notre Dame College Republicans, including a forum aimed at getting students involved in political campaigns, no matter their ideology. Cooney also had a column in The Observer, where he wrote about our fractured political system and called on our political leaders to fulfill their constitutional obligations, foreshadowing his future anti-corruption work in politics and government. In an October 1997 edition of the Observer, Cooney lamented our nation’s unscrupulous campaign finance system. He criticized Republicans and Democrats alike for pointing fingers rather than passing campaign finance reform, saying “Republicans [point] at abusive Democrat fundraising practices and Democrats [point] at elitist Republicans unwilling to reform.” He characterized their behavior as “classic Washington power-politics at work.” Current Notre Dame students should draw inspiration from this history of on-campus civic engagement. Rather than getting caught up in games of partisan politics or tuning out entirely from politics, students should work to find common ground and find ways to engage in politics that are not overtly partisan, as Cooney has.
Cooney brought his penchant for taking on corruption and leading with virtue to the Department of Justice. When asked about Cooney’s professional career, his colleagues stated that Cooney never showed partisanship in his work. He helped prosecute leading figures from both parties, such as Trump and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, albeit unsuccessfully. As these prosecutions demonstrate, Cooney is a virtuous leader whose morals transcend party lines. This Notre Dame alumnus proves that perhaps one day our political leaders will once again lead with integrity, which is a meaningful source of hope for many at Notre Dame.
Cooney has the chance to actualize his dreams of reforming the American political system. Cooney is running in Virginia’s proposed seventh congressional district on a platform of anti-corruption, bipartisanship and democratic reform. Depending on a handful of elections in Virginia, Cooney could be the next Notre Dame alumnus to roam the halls of Congress.
Cooney’s career serves as a guide and a point of pride for Notre Dame students. As we watch his rise in politics, we can see a principled leader who was shaped by the political influences of Notre Dame. Notre Dame has a unique political climate for a top university, and students have a special opportunity to learn how to work with one another, even with different ideologies. Cooney’s righteousness and bipartisanship serve as an inspiring model for our polarized politics and demonstrates the value of a Notre Dame education.
Alex Funk
Co-vice president of the Notre Dame College Democrats
Class of 2028
April 13
