BALTIMORE — More than 100 days ahead of Maryland’s primary and facing an uphill battle against three rivals, Del. Dan Cox stood proudly on the floor of the House of Delegates to introduce his wife and 10 children, expressing confidence he would be the Republican Party’s gubernatorial nominee.
“I just wanted to real quickly let the body know my bride, Valerie, (and) the future first family of Maryland is here visiting me today in the gallery,” a smiling Cox said. Some colleagues clapped. Others jeered.
But the Trump-endorsed, anti-abortion backbencher went on to defeat fellow Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s hand-picked successor in the July 19 primary, widening a rift between Trump and Hogan supporters in Maryland’s GOP.
