Key Highlights
- Dan Cox has announced his intention to run for Maryland governor, naming Rob Krop as his running mate.
- Cox faced a significant defeat in the 2022 governor election against Gov. Wes Moore.
- His new candidacy highlights ongoing divisions among Maryland Republicans following Hogan’s tenure.
- Other Republicans, including Steve S. Hershey Jr., are also pondering a run for governor.
Republican Dan Cox has officially entered the race for governor of Maryland once again, setting the stage for a possible matchup against Democratic incumbent Wes Moore, who decisively defeated Cox in the previous election cycle.
A former state delegate, Cox has been aiming for both statewide and congressional roles for the past decade, but his efforts have not yet borne fruit in a state where Democrats outnumber their Republican counterparts two to one.
Cox’s candidacy was recorded on the Maryland elections board website on Friday, confirming Rob Krop as his running mate. As of Saturday morning, he had not commented publicly on the matter.
Initially, Cox ran for governor in 2022 and garnered high-profile support from former President Donald Trump. His campaign highlighted the stark divide within the Republican Party, with Cox and Trump advocating a vision centered around claims of election fraud, while the more moderate outgoing Governor Larry Hogan built a coalition across party lines.
The announcement of Cox’s second bid reverberated throughout the state, prompting Democratic operatives to quickly connect him to Trump. Meanwhile, some Republicans are nudging more centrist candidates to consider joining the race as the party seeks to redefine itself in a post-Hogan era.
Hogan, who previously described Cox as a “whack job” and unworthy of support, has recently stated that he will not seek to reclaim his former position, ending months of speculation regarding his candidacy.
During his previous campaign, Cox secured the Republican nomination after the Democratic Governors Association invested over $2 million in ads aimed at highlighting his connections to Trump. The goal was to paint his extreme positions as a deterrent for independent voters in the general election. Cox famously asserted that the 2020 election was “stolen” and attempted to sue and impeach Hogan over COVID-19 restrictions.
In the general election, Cox suffered a heavy defeat against Moore, a political newcomer and author who captured more than 64% of the vote. Despite hosting a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence, Cox’s campaign was unable to match the funding that Moore amassed.
The Moore campaign declined to provide a comment on Saturday.
“At a time when Donald Trump is constantly attacking our state, Maryland needs a governor committed to fighting for its citizens – not a mere imitation of Donald Trump,” stated Kevin Donohoe, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association.
This sentiment was echoed by Steuart Pittman, Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, who remarked that Cox serves as a stark reminder of the ramifications of Trump’s policies: the detrimental impact on farmers, blue-collar workers, small businesses, and public servants, combined with his disinterest in the rule of law and lacking respect for veterans.
Pittman further noted that Cox’s candidacy presents a unique opportunity for Maryland Democrats to broaden their appeal across the state.
Having dabbled in local politics, Cox’s first significant bid for office came in 2016 when he won the Republican primary for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, though he ultimately lost to Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin in the general election. He later served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 2019 until 2023.
In 2024, Cox also attempted to represent Maryland’s 6th Congressional District in the Republican primary but struggled to establish a broad voter coalition without the external funding that had previously bolstered his gubernatorial campaign. He ended up losing to former state delegate Neil Parrott.
With his recent filing, Cox joins a field of Republican candidates for governor, which includes Baltimore businessman and sports team owner Ed Hale Sr., a recent convert from the Democratic Party characterized as a moderate.
State Senate Minority Leader Steve S. Hershey Jr. is also contemplating entering the gubernatorial race. A seasoned Republican familiar with party leadership dynamics in the General Assembly, Hershey initiated an exploratory committee in the fall.
Following the news of Cox’s campaign, Hershey reported having received a wave of encouragement to run over the weekend. However, he clarified to The Washington Post via text that Cox’s announcement would not sway his decision-making process.
“My choice will be based on my genuine belief in my ability to make a meaningful impact for Maryland, not on external pressures or the presence of other candidates,” he stated.
Katie Shepherd is a reporter for The Washington Post.
