In 1982, Hooper ran for the
Alabama House of Representatives for the 81st district. He lost in the general election to the
Democratic Party nominee, Ham Wilson Jr. Running for the 73rd district in a
special election in 1983, Hooper defeated Wilson. Hooper served until 2003, after he lost renomination in 2002 to David Grimes. In 1987, the Junior Chamber International awarded Hooper "Outstanding Young Man of Alabama". American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group of conservative lawmakers and businesses, presented him with the Thomas Jefferson Free Enterprise Award. He was a member of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. Hooper was the co-chair of
Donald Trump's
2016 presidential campaign in Alabama. After
Jeff Sessions resigned from the
United States Senate to become
attorney general of the United States, Hooper sought the appointment to succeed Sessions in the Senate. Hooper was one of six finalists considered by
Governor Robert Bentley. When
Luther Strange was appointed to the Senate, Hooper endorsed him and declined to run against him in the
2017 special election to fill the remainder of the term. ==Personal life==