After being soundly defeated in his attempt to become Maryland’s governor, Republican nominee Dan Cox is heading north for his next political move. He’s joining the staff of Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who lost that state’s gubernatorial election last year.
“I’m very honored to have the opportunity to continue on with a lot of the work we’ve been doing,” Cox said in an interview with The Baltimore Banner Thursday.
Cox will be Mastriano’s chief of staff and expects to focus on veterans issues, as Mastriano chairs a veterans committee in the Pennsylvania Senate.
And though the job is in Harrisburg, Cox says he plans to stay firmly rooted in Frederick County and remain engaged in Maryland politics. He’s working on a podcast, “It’s Your Freedom,” and continuing to operate a private law practice.
Unlike the Maryland General Assembly that operates in an annual 90-day sprint, Pennsylvania’s legislature operates on a year-round basis, convening for a few weeks at a time followed by a break of few weeks, Cox said. That will allow him to work in both states, he said.
Messages to Mastriano’s state Senate office weren’t immediately returned Thursday.
Cox and Mastriano have an existing political alliance, having supported each other’s campaigns for governor last year and appearing at events together. Both were endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump and embraced far-right positions and conspiracy theories about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Mastriano lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro by 15 points in his governor’s race, while Cox lost to Democrat Wes Moore by 32 points.
Cox said he and Mastriano have known each other for years, and that their legislative districts bordered each other on either side of the Mason-Dixon Line.
“We have a lot of supporters on both sides that want to see the work continue,” Cox said.
Baltimore Banner reporter Brenda Wintrode contributed to this report.
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