President Donald Trump endorsed San Diego businessman John Cox for California governor on Friday. The announcement is expected to provide a boost for Republicans hoping to secure a spot on the ballot this November.
“California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes,” Trump tweeted Friday. “John Cox is the man – he’ll be the best Governor you’ve ever had. I fully endorse John Cox for Governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great again!”
On his part, Cox said that he voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson in the 2016 presidential race, adding, however, that he regrets that vote.
“I am honored and deeply grateful to my president and I am looking forward to working with him to make California great again,” Cox said in a statement.
Cox was also endorsed by most of California’s GOP establishment, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. Cox will be facing Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen, as well as several Democratic candidates, in the primary. At the GOP convention in San Diego that was held this month, Republicans favored Cox over Allen by a 55 to 41 percent margin, FOX 5 reported.
According to Fox News, Cox still remains below the 60 percent threshold required for an official endorsement. Because of that, Republicans hope that the remaining Democrats will split the vote enough to allow one of the GOP candidates onto the ballot in November. California law says that all candidates will appear on the same primary ballot next month, and the top two finishers will advance to the November midterms, meaning two Democrats might compete against each other.
Meanwhile, President Trump remains unpopular in California. Democratic frontrunner Gavin Newsom on Friday uploaded an ad on Facebook calling Cox a “protégé” of Trump, sharing “the same hateful rhetoric as his role model.”
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