WASHINGTON (7News) — Former Maryland Republican State Delegate Dan Cox filed to run for Governor, again, on Friday.
If he were to become the Republican party nominee, Cox would potentially have a rematch against current Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Cox and Moore ran against each other in 2022, with Moore ultimately winning around 64% of the votes.
READ ALSO | Multiple cash rewards offered after Islamophobic graffiti found at Maryland high school
Cox filed with Rob Krop as his choice for Lieutenant Governor. Krop is a real estate broker and co-founder of The Machine Gun Next, an indoor shooting range, according to his LinkedIn.
Kropp was accused of attempting to illegally buy machine guns by the Department of Justice in 2024, but the charges were later dropped.
Gov. Moore officially launched his 2026 reelection campaign in September, pointing to a historic drop in violent crime, middle-class tax cuts and a budget surplus.
SEE PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Maryland Gov. Wes Moore launches 2026 campaign, seeks 2nd term
President Donald Trump endorsed Cox during his first run for governor. Cox is a father of 10 and served in the House of Delegates between 2019 and 2023.
Cox’s campaign website, registered with the Maryland State Board of Elections, said it is coming soon.
Maryland Democratic Party Chair Steuart Pittman released the following statement:
Trump’s got his man now. Dan Cox’s entry into the Maryland Governor’s race, and his likely nomination by the Republican Party, creates a historic opportunity for Maryland Democrats to expand our base of support everywhere.
Cox demonstrated his blind allegiance to Donald Trump when he bussed insurrectionists to Washington on January 6, 2021. He will serve as a reminder to Marylanders what Donald Trump has done for us: his economic assault on farmers, blue collar workers, small businesses, and public servants; his disdain for the rule of law; his disrespect for our veterans; and his lack of fiscal discipline.
The contrast with Governor Wes Moore’s record of protecting Marylanders, growing our economy, and leaving no one behind will be stark.
The Maryland Democratic Party will take advantage of this contrast to bring new voters into our party, to contest every seat with strong candidates everywhere, and to build the infrastructure of the party from the bottom up. Alongside Governor Moore, we will work day and night to make sure they don’t bring MAGA to Maryland.
7News reached out to Cox for comment, but has not received a response as of the time of publication.
Local Story
