Spencer Cox

Spencer Cox
Born	Spencer James Cox 11 7, 1975
Birthplace	Mount Pleasant, Utah, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	18th Governor of Utah
Known for	18th Governor of Utah
Education	Washington and Lee University (JD)
Children	4
Awards	Chair of the National Governors Association (2023–2024)
Website	[https://governor.utah.gov/ Official site]

Spencer James Cox (born July 11, 1975) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 18th governor of Utah since January 4, 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Cox rose through Utah politics from a small-town city council seat in Fairview, Utah, to the governor's mansion over the course of roughly fifteen years—a trajectory shaped by his roots in rural Sanpete County and his background in law. Before becoming governor, he served as the eighth lieutenant governor of Utah from 2013 to 2021 under Governor Gary Herbert, having been appointed to the position after a brief stint in the Utah House of Representatives. Cox won the governorship in the 2020 election and was reelected in 2024. From July 2023 to July 2024, he served as chair of the National Governors Association. Cox has drawn national attention for his emphasis on political civility and his willingness to chart positions independent of national party leadership, including publicly criticizing the Trump administration's approaches to artificial intelligence regulation and prediction markets.

Early Life

Spencer James Cox was born on July 11, 1975, in Mount Pleasant, Utah, a small city in Sanpete County in central Utah. He was raised in the nearby town of Fairview, a rural community with a population of roughly 1,200 people, situated in the Sanpete Valley of central Utah. Cox grew up in an agricultural area, and his upbringing in small-town Utah would later become a defining element of his political identity, as he frequently referenced his rural roots throughout his career in public service.

Cox has continued to maintain his residence in Fairview throughout much of his political career, a fact that has distinguished him from many statewide officeholders who relocate to the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. His connection to the community was evident in his early entry into local politics, beginning with service on the Fairview City Council.

Education

Cox pursued higher education at multiple institutions. He first attended Snow College, a two-year institution in Ephraim, Utah, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree. He then transferred to Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. Cox subsequently attended Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree, qualifying him to practice law.

Career

Local Government (2004–2012)

Cox's career in public service began at the local level in Fairview. In 2004, he was elected to the Fairview City Council, beginning his involvement in municipal governance. The following year, in 2005, he was elected as the mayor of Fairview, a role that gave him executive responsibility for the small community where he had been raised.

In 2008, Cox expanded his scope of public service by winning election as a Sanpete County commissioner, a position that involved him in county-level governance including land use, budgeting, and public services for the broader region. His service as a county commissioner provided experience in a broader range of policy issues than his earlier municipal roles and helped establish his credentials for higher office.

Utah House of Representatives (2013)

In 2012, Cox was elected to represent the 58th district in the Utah House of Representatives, succeeding Stephen Sandstrom. His tenure in the state legislature proved to be brief, lasting from January 1, 2013, to October 16, 2013, as he was soon tapped for a higher position by Governor Gary Herbert. During his time in the House, Cox gained exposure to statewide policy debates and legislative processes that would serve him in his subsequent roles. After Cox's departure from the House, he was succeeded by Jon Cox, who was identified as his fourth cousin.

Lieutenant Governor of Utah (2013–2021)

On October 8, 2013, Governor Gary Herbert announced that he had selected Spencer Cox to serve as the new lieutenant governor of Utah, replacing Greg Bell, who had resigned from the position. The appointment required confirmation by the Utah State Senate, and Cox received unanimous approval from the confirmation committee. He was sworn into office on October 16, 2013.

A profile in the Deseret News described Cox as someone who had initially hesitated about accepting the appointment, noting that the transition from rural Sanpete County politics to the second-highest executive office in the state was a significant leap. The article characterized him as a reluctant entrant into higher-level politics who ultimately accepted out of a sense of duty.

As lieutenant governor, Cox served in a multifaceted role. In Utah, the lieutenant governor oversees the state's elections, manages business registrations, and serves as the governor's key partner in the executive branch. Cox held the position through the remainder of Herbert's term and was elected alongside Herbert as his running mate in the 2016 gubernatorial election.

During the 2016 Republican presidential primary season, Cox endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for the Republican nomination and publicly criticized statements made by Donald Trump regarding Mitt Romney, a prominent figure in Utah politics. Cox was among several Utah Republican officials who distanced themselves from Trump during the primary, reflecting broader skepticism toward the Trump candidacy among Latter-day Saint voters and Republican leaders in Utah. Earlier, Cox had also appeared at events related to Senator Marco Rubio's presidential campaign in Utah.

Governor of Utah (2021–present)

2020 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2019, Cox announced his candidacy for governor of Utah following Gary Herbert's decision not to seek reelection. He ran in the 2020 Republican primary and secured the party's nomination before winning the general election. Cox selected Deidre Henderson, a state senator, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. He took office as the 18th governor of Utah on January 4, 2021.

First Term

As governor, Cox has pursued a range of policy initiatives touching on technology, natural resources, education, and state governance. He has emphasized the role of state governments in leading on policy innovation, particularly in the area of technology regulation.

Cox served as chair of the National Governors Association from July 14, 2023, to July 12, 2024, succeeding New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and being succeeded by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. In this capacity, he engaged with governors from both parties on issues of shared concern and promoted bipartisan dialogue.

2024 Reelection

Cox won reelection as governor of Utah in the 2024 election, securing a second term that will extend through January 2029.

Second Term and Policy Positions

In his second term, Cox has continued to assert the role of states in policy matters, at times placing him at odds with the federal government. In February 2026, speaking at Politico's Governor's Summit in Washington, D.C., Cox criticized the Trump administration's approaches to both prediction markets and artificial intelligence regulation. On AI, Cox argued that states should take the lead in crafting policy rather than deferring to federal directives, saying that the Trump administration was pressuring Utah regarding a state-level AI bill.

On the issue of prediction markets, Cox's stance drew a legal challenge from Kalshi, a prediction market company, which sued Utah in federal court seeking to prevent the governor from taking enforcement action against its operations in the state.

Cox has also focused on modernizing state government services. In February 2026, his office announced the public launch of MyUtah, a new secure digital portal designed to simplify residents' access to state services by consolidating many common government interactions into a single online platform.

Natural resource management has been another area of focus during Cox's tenure. The Great Salt Lake, which has experienced historically low water levels due to drought and water diversion, has been a significant environmental and economic concern for the state. In February 2026, following a pledge by President Donald Trump to help Utah "make [the Great Salt Lake] GREAT AGAIN," Utah leaders prepared to present a $1 billion plan to the federal government to address the lake's declining water levels. Cox's administration also announced strategic agreements related to fuel supply, water infrastructure, and refining in partnership with industry leaders in February 2026.

In September 2025, Cox released a video message addressed to all students in Utah following the murder of political commentator Charlie Kirk, demonstrating his role in addressing issues of public safety and political violence.

Personal Life

Cox lives in Fairview, Utah, the small Sanpete County community where he was raised. He and his wife have four children. Cox has maintained his ties to rural Utah throughout his career, and his residence in Fairview—far from the state capital of Salt Lake City—has been a notable aspect of his personal and political identity. While serving as governor, he also has access to the Utah Governor's Mansion in Salt Lake City.

Cox is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has a significant presence in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West region.

Recognition

Cox's tenure as governor and his broader approach to political leadership have drawn national media attention. In September 2025, The New York Times featured Cox in an opinion piece titled "Spencer Cox Wants to Pull Our Politics Back From the Brink," in which he was described as attempting to model a different form of political leadership during a period of heightened political polarization.

His selection as chair of the National Governors Association for the 2023–2024 term placed him in a leadership role among the nation's governors, providing a platform for bipartisan engagement on policy issues. During his chairmanship, he succeeded New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, and was succeeded by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, also a Democrat, reflecting the NGA's tradition of alternating leadership between the two parties.

Cox's willingness to publicly disagree with members of his own party on specific issues, including his criticisms of the Trump administration's positions on AI regulation and prediction markets, has contributed to his profile as an independent voice within the Republican Party.