Special Poll
Utah Governor Endorses Trump After Assassination Attempt
Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, previously a skeptic of former President Trump, has offered his endorsement following an assassination attempt on Trump. “I am doing everything I can to help and support him,” Cox stated, acknowledging ongoing disagreements.
At the National Governors Association summer meeting, Cox committed to voting for Trump in the upcoming election. His endorsement came a day after Trump accepted the Republican nomination and nearly a week after the assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In a private letter sent the day after the shooting, Cox expressed his support, attributing Trump’s survival to a “miracle” and stating that only Trump could unify the country. “Mr. President, I know we have some differences and you probably don’t like me much. And that’s OK. I get it. I am not writing this letter looking for a position in your Cabinet or a role on your team,” Cox wrote. “But I have loved so many of your policies… [and] I have told everyone that you are going to win the state of Utah and you are going to win the presidency again.”
This marks a significant shift for Cox, who has been known for a more centrist stance. Previously, he had expressed mixed feelings about Trump’s actions, appreciating some policies but criticizing others. Just last month, Cox told POLITICO he had “serious issues with some of the things [Trump has] done.”
Cox had also been critical of Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot, suggesting that Trump should resign for the good of the nation. He had not voted for Trump in the past two elections and had previously avoided confirming if he would vote for him this year. Despite this, Cox defeated a far-right challenger in a landslide in his primary without Trump’s endorsement.
As the former chair of the National Governors Association, Cox had advocated for a governor to be the GOP’s nominee and had stated that nominating Trump would be a “huge mistake.” His wife and lieutenant governor were involved in Nikki Haley’s leadership team.