Former New York State GOP Chair Ed Cox is considering a run for his old job. Cox held the position from 2009 to 2019 and is now talking to Republican leaders around the state about the possibility of running again. Cox did not provide any additional details about his potential candidacy.
News of Cox’s interest in the job came after Rockland County GOP Chair Lawrence Garvey endorsed him in a press release. Garvey, who is also a candidate for state chair, said that he would endorse Cox if he chose to run. In his statement, Garvey praised Cox’s leadership, saying that he had raised millions of dollars for the party and helped the GOP win several congressional races in 2010.
Other candidates for the position, including State Assemblyman Chris Tague, former state attorney general candidate Michael Henry, and Fulton County GOP Chair Sue McNeil, have said that they are staying in the race. However, McNeil said that she would appoint Cox as “fundraising chair” if he entered the race because of his proven fundraising skills.
John Sarcone, who dropped out of the attorney general race last year, said that he was still running for state chair until he heard directly from Cox. Putnam County Republican Chair Anthony Scannapieco said that he is contemplating not running if Cox enters the race but has not made a final decision.
Cox played an instrumental role in launching a legal challenge against the Democratic attempts to implement newly redistricted congressional lines. He also spent the latter part of the midterm election cycle raising money to help elect Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin.
Cox has been active in Republican Party politics for decades, helping to elect former Gov. George Pataki in 1994. In 2009, he was elected to serve as chairman of the New York State Republican Committee. After electoral losses in 2018, he stepped down, making way for Nick Langworthy to take over the job as chairman, while Cox pivoted to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. With Langworthy now elected to Congress, the party chairman position is once again open.
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