Meet John Cox: California Recall Candidate Profile

By Sameea Kamal, CalMatters

Age: 66

Party: Republican

Home: Rancho Santa Fe

Investment manager and accountant who has a law degree. Lost to Newsom in 2018, in addition to failed bids for Congress, U.S. Senate and the presidency. Founder of a Rebuilding Together chapter, which repairs homes for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Father to four daughters, and an active member of Nativity Catholic church.

Likes:

Bears, a zero minimum wage, small businesses

Dislikes:

Trash, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Kevin Faulconer

If he becomes governor:

• Would try to address homelessness by requiring treatment for mental illness or substance abuse before housing is provided and shifting more funding to the treatment-first approach, and increasing law enforcement crackdowns of public camping, drug consumption or fighting
• Would seek to make housing more affordable by reforming zoning regulations, expediting the building permit process, reducing fees and overhauling the California Environmental Quality Act
• Would cut state income tax by 25%, and close corporate loopholes that benefit the well-connected
• Would work to prevent California’s wildfires through more fire treatment, creating fire breaks, doing prescribed burns, building more access roads in forests and creating an “air armada” of more aircraft to fight fires
• Would rescind mask mandates; opposes vaccine and testing requirements for teachers; reopen schools by encouraging social distancing, masks and protective equipment; and prioritize vaccinations for those 65 and older
• Would try to lower the cost of energy and increase its reliability by expanding production through natural gas and nuclear energy
• Would address the state’s water shortage by adding more reservoirs and desalination plants
• Would end “sanctuary state” designation and help build the U.S.-Mexico border wall

Personal quote:

“Never trust any politician.”

Hear him on the issues:

John Cox talks about COVID, homelessness and more

More about him:

• How did John Cox go from GOP standard-bearer to bears and trash balls?
• Is homelessness Newsom’s weak point in recall? Republicans are counting on it
• Eternal optimist: John Cox, distruster of politicians, keeps bidding to become one

Contact him:

@BeastJohnCoxjohncox.com