Spencer Cox

Last updated

How did you feel when you heard that 49 people had been gunned down by a self-proclaimed terrorist? That’s the easy question. Here is the hard one: Did that feeling change when you found out the shooting was at a gay bar at 2 a.m. in the morning? If that feeling changed, then we are doing something wrong.

Cox has further shown support for the LGBTQ+ community by supporting Governor Herbert's signing an executive order on January 21, 2020, to ban conversion therapy after a bill to do so died in the State Senate in May 2019. [52] [53]

In an April 2021 town hall meeting, Cox announced his personal pronouns are "he", "him", and "his". [54]

In March 2022, Cox vetoed HB11, which would ban transgender youth from participating in high school sports, noting that only four trans kids were playing high school sports in the state at the time. "These kids, they're just trying to stay alive", he said, referring to studies showing that 56% of trans youth have attempted suicide. [55] [56]

On June 1, 2022, Cox became the first Utah governor to recognize June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month when he issued an official proclamation and encouraged Utahns to "be more welcoming and accepting of the LGBTQ community". [57]

On January 28, 2023, Cox signed Senate Bill 16, which bans gender-affirming surgery for patients under 18. [58]

On March 22, 2023, Cox signed HB228, codifying Utah's existing conversion therapy ban, previously approved through a 2020 administrative rule. It was the first conversion therapy ban in the country to pass a state legislature unanimously. [59] [60]

On August 5, 2024, Cox and other state leaders shared misinformation about the female Olympic boxer Imane Khelif. Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz initially posted, "Enough is enough. Men don't belong in women's sports", which Cox shared, adding: "This should never happen to any of our female athletes. They deserve better." At the time of these statements, it had already been confirmed that Khelif was a woman. [61] [62]

Personal life

Cox with his wife Abby in 2024 Utah Governor Spencer Cox and his wife (53708399012) (cropped).jpg
Cox with his wife Abby in 2024

Cox is the oldest of eight children and grew up on a farm in Fairview. [2] He and his wife, Abby, have four children, and reside on their family farm in Fairview. [3] Cox's father, Eddie, served on the Utah Transportation Commission and was also a Sanpete County commissioner. [9]

Cox plays bass guitar in a garage band. [7] [9] His brother-in-law, Travis Osmond, the son of Merrill Osmond, taught him to play bass. [63] State Senator Mike McKell is also a brother-in-law. [2] Cox's fourth cousin, Jon Cox, succeeded him in the Utah House of Representatives. [64]

Cox is a fan of the band The Killers and in 2018 recorded a cover of the song "Read My Mind" with his band. At a 2024 campaign event Cox crowd-surfed during a Brandon Flowers performance.

Electoral history

Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox at the Economic Club of Washington D.C. (53545313288).jpg
Cox in 2024
18th Governor of Utah
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
2016 Utah gubernatorial election [65]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gary Herbert/Spencer Cox (incumbent) 750,850 66.74% −1.67%
Democratic Mike Weinholtz/Kim Bowman323,34928.74%+1.16%
Libertarian Brian Kamerath/Barry Short34,8273.10%+0.85%
Independent American Superdell Schanze/Gregory Duerden15,9121.41%N/A
Independent L.S. Brown (write-in)970.01%N/A
Total votes1,125,035 100.0% N/A
Republican hold
2020 Republican gubernatorial primary [66]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Spencer Cox 190,565 36.15%
Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. 184,24634.95%
Republican Greg Hughes 110,83521.02%
Republican Thomas Wright 41,5327.88%
Total votes527,178 100.00%
2020 Utah gubernatorial election [67]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Spencer Cox 918,754 62.98% −3.76%
Democratic Christopher Peterson 442,75430.35%+1.61%
Libertarian Daniel Cottam51,3933.52%+0.42%
Independent American Gregory Duerden25,8101.77%+0.36%
Write-in 20,1671.38%+1.37%
Total votes1,458,878 100.00%
Republican hold

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References

  1. ↑ "Sanpete County Commissioners | Sanpete County". Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gehrke, Robert (October 15, 2013). "How Cox rose from farm boy to lieutenant-governor-in-waiting". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Wells, David (October 8, 2013). "Utah's new Lt. Governor announced". FOX13Now.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ Robinson, Doug (June 29, 2014). "Spencer Cox: The lieutenant governor who almost said no". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. ↑ "2008 In Review | Local News". Daily Herald. heraldextra.com. December 31, 2008. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Delegates trade one Cox for another for Utah House seat". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 8, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Gehrke, Robert (October 8, 2013). "Herbert picks state Rep. Spencer Cox as new lieutenant governor". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Roche, Lisa Riley (October 8, 2013). "Gov. Herbert names Rep. Spencer Cox new lieutenant governor". Deseret News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 Roche, Lisa Riley (October 15, 2013). "Lt. gov. pick Spencer Cox wins unanimous approval from confirmation committee". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ Roche, Lisa Riley (October 16, 2013). "'Shocked' Spencer Cox sworn in as new lieutenant governor". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gehrke, Robert (November 22, 2013). "Swallow resigns, proclaiming innocence: 'Time for the madness to stop'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announces he is running for Utah governor, vows a 'different,' positive campaign". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  13. ↑ "State Board of Canvassers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Here are the reasons Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox says he's running for governor in 2020". Deseret News. May 14, 2019. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  15. ↑ Axelrod, Tal (July 6, 2020). "Spencer Cox defeats Jon Huntsman in Utah GOP governor primary". TheHill. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  16. ↑ Roche, Lisa Riley (November 3, 2020). "Spencer Cox says he'll be governor for all of Utah as Peterson concedes race". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  17. ↑ McKellar, Katie (January 4, 2021). "Spencer Cox, Utah's 18th governor, says state's greatest days lie ahead". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Rodgers, Bethany (January 3, 2021). "Utah's incoming Gov. Spencer Cox faces challenges on vaccinations, education". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ Stevens, Taylor; Rodgers, Bethany (April 16, 2021). "Here are five things Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he would do in his first 100 days. Did he do them?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ Rodgers, Bethany (September 7, 2020). "Opponents of Spencer Cox wait for audit of no-bid contracts". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Gov. Cox elected vice chair of NGA". governor.utah.gov. Portland, Maine. July 15, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ Moshiri, Azadeh (March 24, 2023). "Utah is first US state to limit teen social media access". BBC. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Utah's new social media law means children will need approval from parents". NPR . March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ Singer, Natasha (March 23, 2023). "Utah Law Could Curb Use of TikTok and Instagram by Children and Teens". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  25. ↑ Schott, Brian (March 23, 2021). "Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoes controversial social media legislation". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ "S.B. 39 Hemp Regulation Amendments". Utah State Legislature. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  27. ↑ "S.B. 187 Local Education Agency Policies Amendments". Utah State Legislature. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  28. ↑ "H.B. 98 Local Government Building Regulation Amendments". Utah State Legislature. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  29. ↑ Winslow, Ben (March 22, 2022). "Utah's governor vetoes transgender sports bill, legislature will override". KSTU. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  30. ↑ Medina, Eduardo (March 25, 2022). "Utah Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto of Transgender Athlete Bill". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  31. ↑ Dunphey, Kyle (July 11, 2023). "Poll: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox continues to enjoy strong approval rating". Deseret News. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Utah governor says Taylor Greene's 'national divorce' proposal is 'evil'". FOX News. February 21, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  33. ↑ Steinbrecher, Lauren; Wells, David (October 19, 2015). "Presidential candidate Marco Rubio visiting Utah Monday". FOX13 Salt Lake City. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  34. ↑ Woodruff, Daniel (March 19, 2016). "Utah's Lt. Gov. endorses Ted Cruz, condemns Trump's comments on Romney". KUTV. Archived from the original on June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Trump's Appeal With Mormons To Be Tested In Utah". CBS Baltimore. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  36. ↑ Winslow, Ben; Wells, David (March 16, 2016). "GOP presidential debate in SLC canceled". FOX13 Salt Lake City. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Gov. Spencer Cox Said President Trump Incited Violence at Capitol, Defends Past Support". January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  38. ↑ Ball, Molly (August 18, 2022). "The Red-State Governor Who's Not Afraid to Be 'Woke'". Time . Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Gov. Cox does an about-face, endorses Trump after assassination attempt". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). July 19, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Utah's Lt. Gov. Cox Defends Comparing Abortion to Slavery After Backlash". Newsweek. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  41. ↑ Martinez, Ivana (January 26, 2020). "Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox Responds to Controversial Comments on Abortion". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  42. ↑ Benedict, Patrick (May 3, 2022). "Utah politicians react to Roe v Wade bombshell; Cox, Henderson, Romney, Lee express support for draft opinion, decry historic leak | Gephardt Daily" . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson issue joint statement on U.S. Supreme Court ruling". Governor Spencer J. Cox. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Utah governor signs bill banning abortion clinics across the state". ABC News. March 16, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  45. ↑ Afshar, Paradise (May 3, 2023). "Judge blocks Utah's ban on abortion clinics from taking effect | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  46. ↑ Parrott, Jeff; Scholl, Jacob (August 11, 2023). "Federal judge tosses Utah lawsuit seeking to shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  47. ↑ Earl, Mateo. "Utah Governor Signs Law to Allow Unpermitted Gun Carry". The Skyline Horizon. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Utah Gov. Spencer Cox asking Utah lawmakers to keep an open mind on gun reform". Deseret News. June 16, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  49. ↑ Victor, Daniel (June 16, 2016). "At Vigil for Orlando Victims, Utah Republican Apologizes to L.G.B.T. Community". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  50. ↑ McEvers, Kelly (June 15, 2016). "'My Heart Has Changed': Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox Apologizes To LGBT Community". NPR. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Lt. Gov. Cox speaks at vigil for Orlando: 'My heart has changed' (transcript)". June 14, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  52. ↑ Giardinelli, Christina (March 8, 2019). "LGBTQ Youth Sat in Front of Governor's Office Demanding an Apology. They Got One". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  53. ↑ @spencerjcox (March 7, 2019). "Amelia, I am so sorry that you are hurting" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2023– via Twitter.
  54. ↑ "Conservative group shares misleading video of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox listing his pronouns".
  55. ↑ Cox, Spencer (March 24, 2022). "Gov. Cox: Why I'm vetoing HB11". Governor Spencer J. Cox. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  56. ↑ "BREAKING: Human Rights Campaign Commends Republican Gov. Spencer Cox for Vetoing Anti-Trans Sports Ban". Human Rights Campaign. March 22, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  57. ↑ "Governor issues proclamation marking LGBTQ Pride Month". KSTU. June 1, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  58. ↑ "Utah Governor signs SB 16 into law, banning gender-affirming procedures on minors". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Utah Governor Signs Conversion Therapy Ban Into Law". March 22, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Utah Legislature codifies ban on conversion therapy while addressing therapists' concerns". February 17, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Utah's attacks on Olympic boxer's gender call future host's inclusivity into question". August 5, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Cox, Lee, Schultz, Adams spread misconceptions about Olympic boxer's sex". August 6, 2024.
  63. ↑ Clark, Antone (October 15, 2013). "Cox expected to take office as lieutenant governor". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  64. ↑ Romboy, Dennis (November 8, 2013). "GOP names Utah House replacement for Spencer Cox — his fourth cousin". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  65. ↑ "Utah Election Official Results" (PDF). Utah Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  66. ↑ "2020 Regular Primary Canvass" (PDF). State of Utah.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  67. ↑ "2020 General Election Canvass" (PDF). Lieutenant Governor of Utah . November 23, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
Utah House of Representatives
Preceded byMember of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 58th district
2013		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Utah
2013–2021		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Utah
2021–present		Incumbent
Preceded by Chair of the National Governors Association
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Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Utah
2020, 2024 		Most recent
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Preceded byas Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
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