Utah’s Spencer Cox hopes a governor can defeat Trump in the primary – “Someone who can win”

Why do Republicans agree to be interviewed on Sunday morning political shows? Unless they are on Fox, it is a foregone conclusion that the show host will be a Democrat voter who has little use for Republican politicians and that usually is clearly transmitted during the interview.

Republicans are brought on to trash Trump and his voters. Case in point – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum on NBC’s Meet the Press. Host Chuck Todd kept turning the conversation to Trump though Burgum tried to explain that he isn’t interested in engaging in cultural wars within the Republican Party. Burgum has been in the primary race for four weeks and he is outspending all his Republican presidential rivals. He isn’t well-known so it’s important to his campaign that he introduce himself to voters. Too bad Todd was more interested in trying to instigate Republican on Republican candidate divisiveness. Todd went to Fargo, North Dakota to interview the governor.

He’s a 66-year-old former software executive and two-term governor. And yes he is self funding much of his presidential campaign right now. In April, Burgum signed a law that did ban abortion at six weeks and he has signed eight bills into law that have been pushed by his conservative legislature that limits the rights of transgender North Dakotans. But at the same time, he is arguing that Republicans will do better in 2024 if they focus solely on pocket-book issues.

Todd made the point that Burgum’s campaign is more in step with Republicans in the 1990s or the Mitt Romney Republicans who focus on economic issues over social and cultural issues, as Burgum tries to do. Burgum tried to make his case. He explained that Republican voters are not silent voters but they are exhausted with the drama in primary politics. Voters are more concerned about their financial well-being than other issues.

Well, first of all I would describe them not as silent but exhausted. There’s a broad spectrum of Americans that are really frustrated with the discourse that’s happening at the edge. And part of the reason they’re frustrated is because there aren’t candidates, there aren’t choices on the ballot, to talk about the things that matter to them. And when the First Lady and I are in New Hampshire and Iowa or here in North Dakota where we’ve been leading the last six and a half years, the things that people are concerned about, price of food on the table, the price of gas at the pump. You know, and you wouldn’t think that in North Dakota that national security would be front of mind, but whether it’s Chinese spy balloons, whether it’s the price of soybeans and tariffs, or whether it’s China building spy bases. These three things, the economy, energy policy, and national security, are things that people really care about and they touch every American. And they don’t just touch Republicans. They touch independents, they touch Democrats. If we can unleash the best of America, if we can get our economy sprinting instead of crawling, that lifts the boat for everybody. We know that. That’s always been. And when – we are in a cold war in China, we just won’t admit it. But the way you work your way through a cold war is you win it economically.

I used to think that economic issues should take the forefront in political debates. In a perfect world, Republicans could take a more traditional hands-off approach to government intervention into social issues and cultural concerns. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, this is Biden’s America, and the leftists are determined to reshape our country into one that is unacceptable to at least half of the population. The transgender agenda is promoted in schools and in public events. Parents are told they should not have a say in what is taught in their children’s school. Joe Biden parrots the language of Communists when he says all children are everyone’s children. American parents are pushing back and saying no, their children are not property of the government.

Burgum was asked about whether or not he would do business with Donald Trump. Burgum is a wealthy and successful former software executive, besides being a two-term governor. Todd made a point of quizzing Burgum on how honest he is, if he has ever lied. Burgum insisted he has not. Then came the Trump question about doing business with him. Burgum said no. “I just think that it’s important that you’re judged by the company you keep, and I –”

Todd got what he wanted.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox was interviewed on CBS’s Face the Nation. He was publicizing his actions to sue social media companies in order to protect children. He wants to hold them accountable for the harm they can do to the lives of children.

“​​We believe they’ve known about- about the dangers, some of this has been leaked out, Meta and others, very clear evidence that they knew the harms that their products were causing to kids, and that they intentionally tried to hide that information,” Cox told Brennan.

“And- and- and of course to not make-make changes that are necessary to protect our kids, and- and so we’re looking forward to having our day in court on that issue.”

“I’m sure we’ll have social media companies suing the state of Utah. In fact, we’re going to be suing social media companies for- for the harm and damage that they’re causing our young people,” Cox said. “I suspect that at some point, the Supreme Court will weigh in on this decision when it comes to restricting youth access. What we’re trying to do is give families more control over what is happening on social media.”

Earlier this year, Cox signed legislature that restricts use of social media platforms for minors without parental permission. A bill is set to take effect in March 2024, Utah Senate Bill 152, that requires users to verify that they are 18 years or older in order to open an account. Under the age of 18, users need parental or guardian consent.

Host Margaret Brennan drew him into discussing the Republican primary, of course, and he weighed in that he prefers that a governor or former governor runs as the nominee. There are six governors and former governors running in the GOP primary.

‘I like governors,’ Cox said during an interview with CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan. ‘I think governors are great. I think governors have real experience.’

‘The great thing about governors is we actually have to get stuff done, right? We can’t just do the performance thing,’ he added.

At least six current or former GOP governors are running in 2024. “Can any of them defeat Donald Trump in a primary?” @margbrennan asks GOP Utah @GovCox.

“I hope so,” Cox says. “I’m really hopeful that we can turn the page and try something else. Someone who can win.” pic.twitter.com/oUA9Cs6l9o

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 9, 2023

That sounds like he’d be happy with DeSantis winning the nomination. He’s the only realistic alternative to Trump at his point in the primary. I agree with Cox. I prefer governors to become president, too. They have a wide scope of experience in managing their states. Do we think that DeSantis would have managed the pandemic as Trump did? Trump had great business experience and knew how to get the economy booming, as he did, but when it came to other decisions, he flailed. He went along with Fauci and kept him as the go-to advisor on the pandemic.

And, yes, most importantly, we must win in 2024. Any of the Republicans running in the primary would be better than Joe Biden or any other Democrat who might run for president. All elections are important but 2024 feels particularly important. I don’t think another four years of Biden and his leftist minions are something any of us want. We have to nominate someone who can win Republican voters, women, independent voters, and appeal to Trump voters, too. It’s a tall order but it has to be done if Republicans are to win.