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Spencer Cox

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Spencer Cox
Cox in 2024
18th Governor of Utah
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
LieutenantDeidre Henderson
Preceded byGary Herbert
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
July 14, 2023 – July 12, 2024
Preceded byPhil Murphy
Succeeded byJared Polis
8th Lieutenant Governor of Utah
In office
October 16, 2013 – January 4, 2021
GovernorGary Herbert
Preceded byGreg Bell
Succeeded byDeidre Henderson
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 58th district
In office
January 1, 2013 – October 16, 2013
Preceded byStephen Sandstrom
Succeeded byJon Cox
Personal details
Born
Spencer James Cox

(1975-07-11) July 11, 1975 (age 49)
Mount Pleasant, Utah, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAbby Palmer
Children4
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
EducationSnow College (AA)
Utah State University (BA)
Washington and Lee University (JD)
Signature

Spencer James Cox (born July 11, 1975) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th governor of Utah since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the eighth lieutenant governor of Utah from 2013 to 2021. In Fairview, Utah, where Cox lives and was raised, he was elected to the city council in 2004 and then as mayor in 2005. In 2008, he was elected as a Sanpete County commissioner.[1]

He was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2012. In October 2013, Governor Gary Herbert appointed Cox to replace Greg Bell as lieutenant governor; he was confirmed unanimously by the Utah State Senate. Cox was elected to the lieutenant governorship as Herbert's running mate in 2016, and was elected governor in 2020. He was reelected to a second term in 2024.

Early life and education

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Cox was raised in Fairview, Utah; he graduated from North Sanpete High School. He enrolled at Snow College and completed a mission to Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while he was a student. During that time, he married his high-school sweetheart, Abby, who also graduated from Snow College. After graduating with an associate's degree, he attended Utah State University (USU), graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.[2] At USU, Cox was named Student of the Year and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

Cox was accepted by Harvard Law School but instead chose to enroll at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He was a member of the Washington and Lee Law Review and graduated in 2001 with a Juris Doctor with honors.[2][3]

Career

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[edit]

After law school, Cox was a law clerk for judge Ted Stewart of the United States District Court for the District of Utah. After his clerkship, Cox joined Fabian and Clendenin, a Salt Lake City law firm. He returned to rural Utah and became a vice president of Centracom.[4]

Political career

[edit]

Cox was elected as a city councilor of Fairview, Utah in 2004,[3] and mayor the next year. In 2008, he was elected as a Sanpete County commissioner.[5][6][2] Cox was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2012 and became the first member to call for the impeachment of John Swallow, the attorney general of Utah, over violations of campaign finance laws.[7] Cox and Lieutenant Governor Bell served as co-chairs of Governor Herbert's Rural Partnership Board.[8]

Lieutenant governor of Utah

[edit]

In October 2013, Herbert selected Cox to succeed Bell as lieutenant governor following Bell's resignation.[8] The Utah Senate's Government Operations Confirmation Committee unanimously approved his nomination on October 15.[9] The next day, the full Utah Senate confirmed him unanimously and he was sworn in.[10] As lieutenant governor, Cox produced a report on Swallow's financial interests, demonstrating that Swallow had failed to properly disclose all of his income and business interests. Swallow resigned before the report's release.[11]

In the 2016 Utah gubernatorial election, Cox was elected to a full term as lieutenant governor as Herbert's running mate.[12][13]

Governor of Utah

[edit]

On May 14, 2019, after Herbert announced that he would not seek reelection, Cox announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of Utah in 2020.[14] With 36% of the vote in the primary, he defeated former governor Jon Huntsman Jr., former Utah GOP chair Thomas Wright, and former Utah House speaker Greg Hughes.[15] In the general election, Cox defeated the Democratic nominee, Chris Peterson, 63% to 30%.[16] In a break with tradition, Cox's January 4, 2021, inauguration (with precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic) was held at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, a small town in Washington County. The stated purpose of this move was to express Cox's desire to be governor for the entire state as opposed to focusing on the Wasatch Front region.[17] Within days of his inauguration, he opened an office on Southern Utah University's Cedar City campus.[18]

Cox said early on that increasing the speed of the state's vaccine distribution was his administration's top priority. As of April 2021, Utah had administered more than 85% of the doses that it has received, according to CDC data.[19] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Utah, Cox faced criticism for the state's decision to award millions of dollars in no-bid contracts in the early days of the crisis and for the controversial purchase of an anti-malaria drug as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Cox says he had no role in approving the $800,000 hydroxychloroquine order, which was later canceled.[18][20]

In July 2022, Cox was elected vice chair of the National Governors Association, succeeding New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who was voted chair.[21] In March 2023, Cox signed two bills into law, including the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, which bans social media platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, from allowing minors to create accounts without parental consent, and blocks children's access during certain hours.[22][23][24]

Vetoes

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Cox has vetoed five bills as of 2022, all of which were Republican-backed (Republicans have supermajorities in both of Utah’s state legislative chambers).

Cox's first veto was of a bill sponsored by his brother-in-law, Senator Mike McKell, which sought to regulate the way social media platforms moderate content.[25] Cox also vetoed Senate Bill 187: Local Education Agency Policies Amendments, sponsored by Ronald Winterton; Senate Bill 39: Hemp Regulation Amendments, sponsored by David Hinkins; and House Bill 98: Local Government Building Regulation Amendments, sponsored by Paul Ray.[26][27][28]

In March 2022, Cox vetoed House Bill 11: Student Eligibility in Interscholastic Activities, sponsored by Kera Birkeland, which aimed to prevent transgender youth athletes from participating in women's sports. Cox noted that of Utah's 75,000 student athletes, only four were transgender and only one competed in women's sports.[29] The legislature overrode his veto.[30]

Political positions

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Cox is frequently considered a moderate Republican.[31][32]

In October 2015, Cox endorsed Marco Rubio in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.[33] After Rubio withdrew, Cox endorsed Ted Cruz in March 2016.[34]

Cox said of Donald Trump's campaign, "We care a lot about decorum. We care about our neighbors. We are a good, kind people. He does not represent neither goodness nor kindness."[35] He said he would not support Trump if he won the Republican nomination: "I think he's disingenuous. I think he's dangerous. I think he represents the worst of what our great country stands for... I won't vote for Hillary, but I won't vote for Trump, either."[36]

Cox eventually changed course and said in 2020 that he supported Trump, although he claims not to have voted for Trump in the 2016 or the 2020 presidential election. After the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Cox said that Trump was responsible for inciting the violence and called on him to resign.[37][38]

On July 14, 2024, Cox released a letter endorsing Trump. In it, he wrote of a failed Trump assassination attempt: "I want you to know that I truly believe that God had a hand in saving you...I also hesitate to even imagine what would have happened to our country if your life had not been miraculously spared... Your life was spared. Now, because of that miracle, you have the opportunity to do something that no other person on earth can do right now: unify and save our country." Cox added that he believes that only Trump can unite the citizenry of the U.S. and prevent the country from being torn apart.[39]

Abortion

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Cox identifies himself as pro-life[40] and opposes abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother.[41]

In May 2022, after the leaking of the draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, Cox expressed support for the decision, but decried the leak, saying, "While we are encouraged and optimistic at the possibility that the abortion law will be left to the duly elected representatives of the states, draft rulings are not actual rulings and leaked drafts are a dangerous violation of court protocol and deliberations."[42]

On June 24, 2022, Cox expressed his support for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and said: "This administration has been dedicated to giving a voice to the most vulnerable in our society, including the unborn. We wholeheartedly support this Supreme Court ruling and are encouraged to see abortion law will be left to elected state representatives. As pro-life advocates, this administration is equally committed to supporting women and families in Utah. We all need to do more to support mothers, pregnant women, and children facing poverty and trauma."[43]

In March 2023, Cox signed a bill banning abortion clinics from operating in Utah and requiring abortions to be performed in a hospital.[44] The law was issued a temporary injunction by Third District Court Judge Andrew Stone a day before it was to take effect.[45]

Environment

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Cox opposes the use of the Antiquities Act to create national monuments, saying that he believes monument designations hurt the landscapes they are meant to protect. He has expressed opposition to the restored boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and to the creation of Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.[46]

Guns

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In February 2021, Cox signed a constitutional carry bill to allow individuals to carry a firearm in public without a permit, making Utah the 17th state to do so.[47]

In June 2022, Cox said in a press conference that he was open to discussing a red flag law with the legislature.[48]

LGBT rights

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On June 13, 2016, Cox spoke at a vigil in Salt Lake City honoring those who died in the Orlando nightclub shooting the day before. He surprised many when he apologized for mistreating schoolmates and his lack of support for the LGBTQ community.[49][50] He aimed part of his speech at the "straight community":[51]

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

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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

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2016 Utah gubernatorial election[65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gary Herbert/Spencer Cox (incumbent) 750,850 66.74% −1.67%
Democratic Mike Weinholtz/Kim Bowman 323,349 28.74% +1.16%
Libertarian Brian Kamerath/Barry Short 34,827 3.10% +0.85%
Independent American Superdell Schanze/Gregory Duerden 15,912 1.41% N/A
Independent L.S. Brown (write-in) 97 0.01% N/A
Total votes 1,125,035 100.0% N/A
Republican hold
2020 Republican gubernatorial primary[66]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Spencer Cox 190,565 36.15%
Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. 184,246 34.95%
Republican Greg Hughes 110,835 21.02%
Republican Thomas Wright 41,532 7.88%
Total votes 527,178 100.00%
2020 Utah gubernatorial election[67]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Spencer Cox 918,754 62.98% −3.76%
Democratic Christopher Peterson 442,754 30.35% +1.61%
Libertarian Daniel Cottam 51,393 3.52% +0.42%
Independent American Gregory Duerden 25,810 1.77% +0.36%
Write-in 20,167 1.38% +1.37%
Total votes 1,458,878 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Sanpete County Commissioners | Sanpete County". Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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.
[edit]
Utah House of Representatives
Preceded by Member 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
2023–2024
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Utah
2020, 2024
Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within Utah
Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Mike Johnson
as Speaker of the House
Preceded byas Governor of Wyoming Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Utah
Succeeded byas Governor of Oklahoma