Phil Cox

Phil Cox (born c. 1974)^[1] is an American long-time political operative, having served as the campaign manager or senior strategist to over one hundred campaigns for Congress, Governor, U.S. Senate, and President. He is co-founder of 50 State, a bipartisan, state-focused government and public affairs firm, and founder and CEO of GuidePostStrategies (GPS), a federal government and public affairs firm. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and lives in McLean, Virginia, with his wife and two children.^[2]

Early career

After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1996, from 1997 – 2001 Cox worked on a series of Virginia General Assembly campaigns, eventually helping to elect more than two dozen members. In 2001 he served as Campaign Manager for Lt. Governor John Hager’s campaign for Governor, and in 2005 helped direct Bob McDonnell’s successful campaign for Attorney General. 

From 2002 – 2005, Cox helped direct communications and fundraising for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and from 2006 – 2008 worked alongside Tim Phillips at Americans for Prosperity, directing AFP’s fundraising,  state chapter development, and issue campaigns. 

Republican Governors

In 2009, Cox served as Campaign Manager for Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell’s campaign for Governor. A year after Barack Obama won Virginia by 7 points, McDonnell enjoyed a 17-point victory^[3] over Creigh Deeds, resulting in a sweep of all three statewide offices. Following that victory, McDonnell appointed Cox as his Transition Director. 

In 2010, Governor Haley Barbour, Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, hired Cox to help oversee the RGA’s political engagement in a half dozen states, including the expensive battlegrounds of Pennsylvania and Florida. 

From 2011-2014, Phil served as Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association, the senior political adviser to the 31 Republican Governors that held office at that time. During that period the RGA directed more than $250 million in support to candidates in all 50 states.^[4] During Cox's tenure, the RGA strengthened its majority, electing 31 Republican governors, with notable wins in traditional Democratic-leaning states like Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Maine.  

Following the 2014 cycle, The Boston Globe called him “a force for the GOP”,^[5] The Washington Times “a Republican Kingmaker”,^[6] and Politico named him one of its “50 Politicos to Watch.”^{[7] [8] [9]}

In 2015-2016, Cox founded and directed America Leads, the presidential Super-PAC supporting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

In 2018, Cox serves as Chairman and senior advisor to super-PACs in support of candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, and manages Independent Expenditure campaigns on behalf of the RGA in a handful of governors races.   ^[10]

50 State, GuidePost Strategies, IMGE

Following his tenure at the RGA, Cox partnered with former Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Colm O'Comartun to form 50 State, a bipartisan, state-focused, government, public affairs, and communications firm serving corporations, trade associations, and national non-profit organizations.^[11]

Following President Donald Trump's election, Cox founded GuidePost Strategies, a federally-focused government and public affairs firm, along with former RGA Policy Director, Marie Sanderson.

Cox serves as Chairman of the Board of IMGE, a digital consulting and marketing firm, on the Board of Directors for the Senate Leadership Fund, and is a member of the Public Policy Council for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is a leader in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

Cox has appeared on Fox, Fox Business, and C-Span, and is frequently cited for political commentary and analysis.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]}

References