Cox contemplates running again despite rejection at polls

In 2018, when California was asked to choose between promoting a sitting lieutenant governor to the state’s top office and electing a wealthy businessman new to politics, John Cox collected more than 4.7 million votes.

Three years later, the San Diego real estate investor did not fare nearly so well.

Cox, who in 2018 came in second to Gavin Newsom’s 7.7 million votes in the gubernatorial election, was finished in fifth place Tuesday night in the failed attempt to recall the first-term governor.

Cox addressed the news media shortly after polls closed alongside his wife, Sarah.

At that time, the results showed San Diego and Orange counties at roughly 60 percent rejecting the recall and him with single-digit support. Later Tuesday night he had 4.7 percent of the vote of those who selected a potential replacement for Newsom.

“There’s still a lot of vote-counting to happen,” he said. “If that (result) comes true, we’ll have to evaluate what Mr. Newsom does. Hopefully he will change.”

The candidate said it was possible he might run again in the general election next year.

“I will explore all of the alternatives,” he said. “The problems are not going away.”

He said a message has been sent, not only to Sacramento but to the country as a whole.

“Hopes and dreams are dashed by the poor opportunities in this state,” he said.

“This battle has just begun. This state has to improve … I’m not going to quit. I’m going to stay active.”

Says he hopes more business leaders will run for public office.

“I run for office because I take responsibility. It’s within my being for me to do this,” he said.

Cox, 66, spent almost $10 million of his own money in the recall election. His total campaign spending topped $11.2 million.

The real estate investor and certified public accountant from San Diego employed several political stunts during his campaign in an effort to distinguish himself from the 45 other candidates seeking to replace Newsom.

Most notably, Cox appeared at campaign events alongside a 1,000-pound Kodiak bear named Tag to underscore his claim that California needed a “beast” to counter Newsom’s “beauty.” Tag was taken off the campaign trail after Cox was sued by animal-rights activists for using the bear.

Later Cox also campaigned with a giant, 8-foot ball of trash he said represented California’s homelessness problems and government waste.

“When I ran in 2018 I had a good team, but a lot of people told me I had to jazz it up, “ he said. “I maybe came off a little boring, so I went with a creative firm. And it worked. I was leading in the polls in early June.”

The recall campaign was Cox’s sixth run for public office. The former Chicagoan previously ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 2000, the U.S. Senate in 2002, the Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 2004 and the presidency in 2008.

Despite those failed campaigns, he told voters this year, his business experience would give him a fresh perspective on state spending priorities and he promised to streamline regulations, lower taxes and keep schools open.

Jeff McDonald of The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed.