Discovery Insights Elections Candidates Calendar Watchlist

Republican

Dan Cox

Visit Website

Republican

Dan Cox

Website

Maryland Republican Governor nominee?

$74.9K

JUN 24, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleFormer State Representative

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age51 years old (Aug 9, 1974)

GenderMale

LocationMaryland

BackgroundAttorney

EducationSaint Mary's University (attended, 1992–1995)

Notable personal detailsDaniel Lewis Cox is an American politician, attorney, and former Maryland state delegate who represented District 4 (Carroll and Frederick counties) from 2019 to 2023. He earned a B.S. in government and politics from the University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus) and a J.D. from Regent University School of Law. Cox previously worked as a high school teacher and later founded and led The Cox Law Center in Frederick County, Maryland.

SourcesShow

2022mdmanual.msa.maryland.gov en.wikipedia.org coxlawcenter.com dancoxforgovernor.com mgaleg.maryland.gov es.wikipedia.org commons.wikimedia.org ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com results.elections.maryland.gov msa.maryland.gov washingtonpost.com mdcatholic.org mdcandidates.com wikwiand-revamp.pages.dev smarter.vote marylandiq.org history.house.gov wtop.com trucking.org assets.nationbuilder.com coxforcongress.org marylandreporter.com states.aarp.org fox5dc.com justfacts.votesmart.org baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net wbal.com mddems.org mdlcv.org eenews.net voteforcox.com aljazeera.com wbaltv.com aminerdetail.com baltimoresun.com foxbaltimore.com marylandmatters.org thedailyrecord.com nytimes.com wjla.com thebanner.com ivoterguide.com predictionedge.com youtube.com ballotpedia.org facebook.com instagram.com wikidata.org congress.gov developer.ballotpedia.org bioguide.congress.gov legislation.ballotpedia.org data.ballotpedia.org cha.house.gov ballotready.org docs.house.gov govinfo.gov upload.wikimedia.org cdn.ballotpedia.org fec.gov nga.org

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Advocates major tax cuts including elimination of the state income tax and other tax reductions, suspension of the gas tax, and tax relief for retirees and businesses; supports expanding tax credits for employers and reducing corporate, personal, and property tax rates. Platform materials and past campaigns also include proposals for large spending cuts and replacement of federal/state tax structures.

Healthcare

Dan Cox has expressed opposition to the Affordable Care Act and has supported repeal efforts in past campaigns, while also supporting expanded Medicaid coverage for at-home long-term care and opposing certain pandemic-related public-health mandates. His public statements combine market-oriented positions on federal health policy with selective support for state-level Medicaid expansions and expanded services for seniors and opioid treatment.

Immigration & Border

Supports strict enforcement-first immigration policies including restoring Remain in Mexico, ending catch-and-release, funding deportation of undocumented immigrants, defending states’ ability to close borders, eliminating perceived asylum fraud, and prioritizing a merit-based system that limits illegal entry.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Dan Cox identifies as pro‑life and has repeatedly supported measures to restrict abortion access, including co-sponsoring fetal heartbeat legislation and seeking to remove public funding for abortion. In a candidate survey he answered that abortion should be allowed “Never,” including saying other lifesaving measures should be sought rather than permitting abortion when the mother’s life is at risk. He praised the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs and has said he would continue efforts to limit abortion access if elected.

Climate & Energy

Rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, opposes major emissions-reduction legislation, and supports an "all-of-the-above" energy approach that includes expanded use of oil and gas and rolling back restrictions on fossil-fuel development.

Public Safety & Guns

Opposes most new gun restrictions and describes himself as pro-gun; rejects assault-weapon bans and argues background checks and bans will not reduce gun violence. Has opposed state bills that would restrict firearms and praised the U.S. Supreme Court Bruen decision expanding gun rights.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedJul 15, 2026

Dan Cox has won the Republican nomination for Maryland governor and is set to face Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in the general election. He has also picked Rob Krop as his running mate. More recently, former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. endorsed Cox and said he will serve as his campaign finance advisor. Cox is also pitching affordability and the state economy as his main opening against Democrats.

2022mdmanual.msa.maryland.gov+60

Articles

CNCBS News1 month ago