What to know about Utah Gov. Spencer Cox

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has gained widespread attention for his remarks connected the fatal shooting of blimpish activistic Charlie Kirk.

The Republican has called the convulsive incidental connected the field of Utah Valley University “an onslaught not conscionable connected an idiosyncratic but connected antiauthoritarian principles.”

Cox besides gained traction aft telling reporters helium was “praying” Kirk’s alleged shooter would beryllium from out-of-state oregon not a U.S. citizen.

“For 33 hours, I was praying that if this had to hap here, that it wouldn't beryllium 1 of america — that idiosyncratic drove from different state, idiosyncratic came from different country… Sadly, that supplication was not answered the mode I hoped for,” Cox said connected Friday.

“This cuts to the precise instauration of who we are,” helium aboriginal added.

The Utah politician has spent years successful section and authorities authorities warranting an array of responses to national emergencies and captious governmental events.

Utah politician primitively opposed Trump

Cox antecedently condemned the archetypal medication of President Trump, alleging the person incited divisive views that further separated a fractured nation.

“We attraction a batch astir decorum. We attraction astir our neighbors. We are a good, benignant people," Cox told CBS News successful 2016, aft endorsing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statesmanlike bid.

In 2024, Cox endorsed Trump aft an assassination effort connected the leader’s life.

“Your beingness was spared. Now, due to the fact that of that miracle, you person the accidental to bash thing that nary different idiosyncratic connected world tin bash close now: unify and prevention our country," the Utah politician wrote successful a missive to Trump, who was connected the run trail.

Cox said helium intended to assistance the person resoluteness governmental tensions crossed the country.

"My committedness to him is I would assistance him effort to little the somesthesia successful this country," helium told Fox 13.

National Leadership

The Utah politician is successful his 2nd word arsenic the state’s leader. From 2023-24, Cox served arsenic president of the National Governors’ Association, further fueling his transportation to counterparts successful neighboring states.

The Utah autochthonal has besides previously served arsenic a metropolis councilmember, mayor, region commissioner and authorities legislator earlier serving arsenic Utah’s lieutenant politician successful 2013. Cox was archetypal sworn successful arsenic politician connected Jan. 4, 2021.

Cox is simply a fiscal blimpish who earned designation from authorities lawmakers for cutting $1.1 cardinal successful taxes during his archetypal word successful office.

Under his leadership, Utah became the 17th authorities to enact a law transportation law, permitting individuals to transportation a firearm successful nationalist without a permit, successful 2021.