Trump’s preferred candidate, Dan Cox beat rival Larry Hogan’s choice, Kelly Schulz in Maryland’s Republican gubernational primary last night.
Hogan, who was unable to run a third term in the post of governor, endorsed moderate Kelly Schulz but ended up losing to Trump’s endorsement, Dan Cox.
Cox’s win is said to be a victory for the America First camp of the GOP, as it battles against the more traditional Republican establishment for directional control.
While Trump emerged victorious against Logan, Democrats, who bizarrely poured more than $1 million into ad campaigns promoting Cox, are said to be rejoicing in the result – believing more right-wing Cox to be an easier opponent for them in November.
Just before the result was called, Trump posted on his social networking site Truth Social to give a final word of support to Cox:
“Trump Endorsed Dan Cox is doing really well tonight…Not over yet, but RINO Larry Hogan’s Endorsement doesn’t seem to be working out so well for his heavily favored candidate. Next, I’d love to see Larry run for President!” he wrote.
The Democratic Governor’s Association (DGA) commissioned a whopping $1.2 million in campaign material linking Cox to Trump and labelling the pro-life, pro-guns politician “too conservative” for Maryland.
The DGA’s executive director, Noam Lee said that Cox was a “conspiracy theorist with an extreme track record” but seemed positive the Dems could beat him in November. Maryland is traditional Democrat, and Hogan’s two terms in office was considered an unusual victory in the region for the GOP:
“We can’t let Dan Cox turn Maryland into MAGAland, which is why the DGA has been holding him accountable for weeks and will continue to ensure we defeat him and his dangerous agenda in November,” said Lee in a public statement.
He may come up against Wes Moore, a best-selling author supported by left-wing chat show host, Oprah Winfrey or the Dem’s favorite, Chris Van Hollen, the serving Senator for Maryland who suffered a stroke during a Democratic summit in May.
Hogan has long been a critical voice against former president Trump. He called Cox a “whackjob” for repeatedly suggesting the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden, was rigged – a stance which GOP establishment Hogan said the party should move away from.
A staunch support of Trump’s, Cox organized coaches for campaigners to attend the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally which resulted in the January 6 storming of the Capitol Building.
He said that Biden’s presidency was illegitimate and that Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence – who has also metaphorically stabbed Trump in the back a “traitor” – a phrase which Hogan took offense to:
“Dan Cox … is a QAnon whack job who was in favor of calling Mike Pence, my friend, a traitor when they were talking about hanging him,” said Hogan.
During Hogan’s time as governor, Cox repeatedly blasted his “restrictive and protracted” Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns, even unsuccessfully attempting to sue and impeach his Republican rival.
During his victory speech on Tuesday evening, Cox made reference to his long-term spat with the former governor:
“We will never again give over our bodies, our churches and our businesses to a lockdown state,” he said.
This story syndicated with permission from Jo Marney, Author at Trending Politics
"*" indicates required fields
