Dan Cox (Maryland politician)

Dan Cox was born in Washington, D.C. He received a B.S. in political science and government from University of Maryland University College in 2002 and a J.D. from Regent University in 2006.⁠[1]

Cox is the principal and an attorney at The Cox Law Center. He previously worked as an associate civil litigation attorney at the Law Offices of John Seipp and as a high school teacher at Walkersville Christian Family Schools.⁠[1]

In 2016 Cox won the Republican primary for Maryland’s 8th congressional district with 44.4% of the vote and lost the general election to Democrat Jamie Raskin, receiving 34.2%.⁠[1]

In 2018 Cox won one of three seats in Maryland House of Delegates District 4, with 33,303 votes (20.6%) in the general election. He served as a delegate from January 9, 2019, to January 11, 2023, and did not seek re-election in 2022.⁠[1][2]

In 2022 Cox, endorsed by Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for governor of Maryland with 52.0% and lost the general election to Democrat Wes Moore, receiving 32.1% and trailing by 32 percentage points.⁠[1][3][4]

In 2024 Cox ran in the Republican primary for Maryland’s 6th congressional district and lost to Neil Parrott, receiving 30.1%.⁠[1]

In Maryland’s Republican primary for governor on June 23, 2026, Cox defeated businessman Ed Hale, leading 45% to 35% with almost all precincts reporting at 12:30 a.m. on June 24, and finished with 43.3%. Hale had been a registered Democrat until this campaign, and Cox’s 2022 running mate, Gloria Schifanelli, endorsed Hale. Cox’s running mate this time was Rob Krop, a Frederick real estate agent and indoor shooting range owner.⁠[4][1]

In the November 3 general election Cox again faced Governor Wes Moore. The Associated Press called the race for Moore one minute after polls closed; as of 11:18 p.m., with 74% of precincts reporting, Moore had about 63% and Cox about 33%.⁠[2]

Around 11 p.m. Cox said he would wait until all votes were counted before conceding: “We are going to let the votes be counted, we are going to let every voice count and matter in this state.”⁠[2]