After being hailed for years as a rare GOP moderate, Gov. Spencer Cox lurched to the political right this year.
Why it matters: Election results suggest Cox’s MAGA shift aligns with many voters and may signal an end to Utah’s reputation for a more centrist, old-school brand of Republicanism.
- That’s why we consider this Utah’s top story of 2024.
Catch up quick: Cox previously was called “the new face of Trump skepticism on the right” and “the red-state governor who’s not afraid to be ‘woke’.”
The big picture: Cox’s most notable pivot was his endorsement of Donald Trump, barely a week after saying he wouldn’t vote for the Republican nominee.
