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R Republican · Governor, Maryland · Nov 3, 2026

Dan
Cox

Republican attorney and former Maryland delegate Dan Cox is the 2026 GOP candidate for Maryland governor.

Researched checked 7 d ago
sources
15
positions
10
endorsements
5
dancoxforgovernor.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Wes Moore D+ 2 more Compare race →

Background

Dan Cox is a Republican attorney and small-business owner from Frederick, Maryland, running for governor of Maryland in 2026. He earned a B.S. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, University College (2002) and a J.D. with distinction from Regent University School of Law (2006), and has operated his own legal practice, Cox Law Center, since 2007. [3, 7, 8]

Before his legal career, Cox worked as a high-school teacher at Walkersville Christian Family Schools (1995–2005) and briefly as a real estate agent before entering law. He previously served as a Town Council Member and Council President for the Town of Secretary (2007–2009) and as a Maryland House of Delegates member representing District 4, first elected in 2018 and serving from January 2019 through January 2023. [3, 13]

Cox won the Republican primary for the 2026 Maryland gubernatorial race and appears on the general election ballot as the Republican candidate, challenging incumbent Democratic Governor Wes Moore. [10, 15]

At a glance

Party
Republican
Running for
Governor, Maryland
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
Attorney and small-business owner (Cox Law Center); 2026 Republican candidate for Governor of Maryland
Website
dancoxforgovernor.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 9
    endorsement
    Cox says he is 'not pursuing' a Trump endorsement in governor's race

    Cox told the Washington Examiner there had been 'no conversations' with Trump and he was not seeking the former president's backing. He said former Gov. Robert Ehrlich was serving as his finance chair and they aimed to rebuild an 'Ehrlich-Hogan coalition.'

    Dan Cox ‘not pursuing’ Trump endorsement in race against Wes Moore · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 6
    debate
    Cox and Moore hold their only scheduled televised gubernatorial debate

    Hosted by Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV, Cox and Moore clashed over taxes, the state budget, immigration, and data centers. Cox pledged not to raise taxes and challenged Moore to hold additional debates at Morgan and Coppin State universities.

    MD gubernatorial debate: Wes Moore, Dan Cox trade barbs but ... · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 6
    poll
    UMBC poll shows Moore leading Cox 51% to 24% among likely voters

    A poll of 776 likely Maryland voters conducted Sept. 22–27 found Moore ahead by roughly 2-to-1. Among unaffiliated voters, Moore led 40% to Cox's 14%, with 27% undecided. The margin of error was 3.5 percentage points.

    UMBC Poll: Moore leads Cox in race for governor by 2-to-1 ... · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 1
    news
    Republican Rob Krop confirmed as Cox's lieutenant governor running mate

    Reporting confirmed that Republican Rob Krop was running for lieutenant governor alongside Dan Cox on the 2026 GOP ticket.

    Republican Rob Krop runs for lieutenant governor with Cox · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 29
    news
    Dan Cox says Maryland 'cannot continue' tax increases under Gov. Moore

    Cox publicly argued that Maryland could not sustain the tax increases that had occurred under Governor Moore's administration, previewing a key campaign theme.

    Dan Cox says Maryland 'cannot continue' tax increases under Gov ... · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 24
    news
    Dan Cox calls for statewide ban on all data centers in Maryland

    In a Fox 45 interview, Cox said 'a ban on these kinds of data centers and on all data centers at this point is essential to protect our state.' He criticized Moore's executive order and faced scrutiny over his past support for a 2020 data-center tax exemption.

    Republican candidate Dan Cox calls for statewide data ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 23
    news
    Gov. Moore issues executive order on data centers; Cox calls it insufficient

    Moore signed an executive order establishing a review framework for data centers. Cox criticized it as insufficient, arguing it fell short of the moratorium he was demanding.

    Republican candidate Dan Cox calls for statewide data ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jun 23
    filing
    Dan Cox wins Republican primary, becomes GOP nominee for Maryland governor

    Cox won the Republican primary and secured the GOP nomination, setting up a rematch against Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

    MD candidates for governor set to debate: What you need to know · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Stand for Health Freedom organization
    Listed as an endorsement on iVoterGuide's Cox gubernatorial profile. No date provided. ivoterguide.com
  • Maryland Right to Life PAC organization
    Listed as endorsing Cox in the 2026 general election on the organization's 2026 candidate endorsements page and referenced on iVoterGuide. Exact endorsement date not established in available sources. ivoterguide.com
  • National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) organization
    Listed as an endorsement on iVoterGuide's Cox gubernatorial profile. No date provided. ivoterguide.com
  • Montgomery County Republican Party (MCGOP) organization
    Lists Cox as its 2026 governor candidate; also listed among endorsements on iVoterGuide. No endorsement date provided in either source. ivoterguide.com
  • Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., former Maryland Governor official
    Ehrlich endorsed Cox and joined the campaign as a finance adviser. Reported by the Baltimore Sun and carried by WBFF (Fox Baltimore). foxbaltimore.com · Jul 14, 2026

Sources 15

  1. [1] Dan Cox ‘not pursuing’ Trump endorsement in race against Wes Moore(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  2. [2] Dan Cox (R) – Maryland Governor 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  3. [3] Voter Guide Profile for MD Governor candidate - Dan Cox(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  4. [4] Moore Vs. Cox: Where Maryland Governor Candidates Stand On ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  5. [5] Governor's debate sparks tensions over higher costs, Trump policies ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  6. [6] MD gubernatorial debate: Wes Moore, Dan Cox trade barbs but ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  7. [7] UMBC Poll: Moore leads Cox in race for governor by 2-to-1 ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  8. [8] Issues - Dan Cox for Governor(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  9. [9] MD candidates for governor set to debate: What you need to know(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  10. [10] Republican Rob Krop runs for lieutenant governor with Cox(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
  11. [11] Dan Cox says Maryland 'cannot continue' tax increases under Gov ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
  12. [12] Republican candidate Dan Cox calls for statewide data ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  13. [13] Dan Cox — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Aug 27, 2026
  14. [14] SUN: Ehrlich endorses Dan Cox in Maryland governor's race(opens in a new tab) Jul 14, 2026
  15. [15] Members - Delegate Daniel L. Cox - Maryland(opens in a new tab) Jun 27, 2022
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