Bobby Cox (politician)

Last updated
Bobby Cox
REP Bobby Cox.jpg
Member of the South CarolinaHouseofRepresentatives
from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 12, 2018
ProfessionBusinessman, State Representative
Website campaign website
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Branch/serviceFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service2002–2019
Rank Army-USA-OF-04.svg Lieutenant Colonel
Unit
Battles/wars Iraq War
Awards

Bobby J. Cox (born February 10, 1980) is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives where he has represented the 21st District since 2018. He is a member of the Republican Party and a former Army Ranger. [1]

Contents

Early life, education and military career

Cox was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina; as a senior he served as Regimental Commander, the highest ranking member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School with a distinction in Leadership and a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. [2]

Following the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, Cox joined the U.S. Army. As an Army Ranger, Cox served four combat tours in the Middle East with elite units as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 75th Ranger Regiment, and the 82nd Airborne Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He also served as an Instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger School and was selected to serve as an U.S. Army Congressional Fellow. Cox continues to serve in the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel

Cox was employed at Milliken & Company in Spartanburg.

Political career

Cox successfully ran for SC House District 21 in 2018. [3] He was elected to lead the freshman caucus.

Cox was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives where he represented the 21st District 2019 to 2025. Cox was Vice Chair of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Military and Veterans Affairs Sub-Committee. [4] On August 11, 2025 he resigned his seat in the House to run for the South Carolina Senate seat vacated by incumbent Roger Nutt. [5]

Cox served on the South Carolina leadership team for the Trump Vance 2025 Presidential Campaign. [6]

Cox is currently employed by SIG SAUER as their Vice President of Government Affairs, where he oversees strategic program development for Capitol Hill, The Pentagon, State Department, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

On December 10, 2019, Cox was nominated by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to be the state's first Secretary of Veterans Affairs. [7] Cox removed his name from consideration after the discovery that holding a Secretary position while in elected office is a violation of State law. [8]

Special election

In August 2025 Cox announced his resignation from the South Carolina House, effective in January 2026, in order to run for the seat of resigning senator Roger Nutt. [9] The special election is scheduled for December 23, 2025, with primaries on October 21. [10] [11] On August 29, 2025, Cox suspended his campaign for the State Senate seat, citing business obligations. [12] [13]

Personal life

Bobby is married to Joscelyn Cox and they have two children and a Boykin Spaniel.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ "SCBobby Cox To Lead SC House Freshmen". Fits News. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov.
  3. ↑ Walters, Haley. "South Carolina House District 21 candidate Bobby Cox". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  4. ↑ "House Standing Committees". South Carolina Legislature. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ Laird, Skylar (2025-08-11). "SC senator resigns seat following Alzheimer's diagnosis • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  6. ↑ "Trump Campaign Announces More than 100 Total Endorsements in South Carolina | Donald J. Trump For President 2024". www.donaldjtrump.com. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  7. ↑ "Rep. Cox picked as 1st head of new SC Veterans' Affairs Dept". WPDE. Associated Press. December 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ Adcox, Seanna (2020-01-30). "SC legislator withdraws bid to lead Veterans Affairs as result of state law". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  9. ↑ Nutt, Roger (August 11, 2025). "SC senator resigns seat following Alzheimer's diagnosis". South Carolina Daily Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Special Election Results Archives". SC Votes - South Carolina Election Commission. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  11. ↑ Carpentier, Bella. "Greenville and Spartanburg counties to have special elections after lawmaker resignations". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  12. ↑ "Bobby Cox Abruptly Suspends S.C. Senate Campaign - FITSNews". 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  13. ↑ REPORT, STAFF (2025-08-30). "Bobby Cox withdraws from SC Senate District 12 race". GreerNews.com. Retrieved 2025-08-31.


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