Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, in a Dec. 2025 CNN interview, praised Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as potential presidential material, joking that governors make the “best presidents” because they need to “accomplish stuff” on nonpartisan issues like potholes.
Controversially, he argued that states serve as “laboratories of democracy” where people “vote with their feet,” and lauded Shapiro’s economic reforms, including streamlining and regulatory cuts, as “red state stuff.” Cox emphasized bipartisan governance amid discussions of political violence, noting that he hopes a Republican wins in 2028 but values effective leaders across parties.
Starting off his divisive comments, the RINO answered a question on Josh Shapiro, saying, “Yeah, I do. I have to tell you, I think I’m very biased towards governors. I think governors make the best presidents. I just do. I think for this very reason, we always say that potholes aren’t partisan.”
Adding to his controversial remarks, the supposed Republican continued. “As governors, we actually have to accomplish stuff, and our system was set up for the states to be laboratories of democracy, so that we could learn from each other and steal ideas, and that people vote with their feet,” Cox stated.
Bringing his comments to a close, the traitor of a supposed Republican concluded, “Now if your state isn’t performing, they will move to another state. And so I’ve been very impressed with what he’s been able to do on the economy, with permitting reform, cutting regulation.”
Continuing with that tiresome ramble in favor of the woke Democrat who could pose a major 2028 threat to JD Vance, Gov. Cox said, “That sounded like red state stuff, and he’s, he’s doing it, and that’s, that’s impressive to me, and and so, yeah, yeah, I think, I think there are a lot of governors in this country who would make great presidents.”
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However, when the clip surfaced on social media, conservatives were unimpressed. “‘Republican’ Utah Governor Spencer Cox gushes over Josh Shapiro—a likely 2028 Presidential candidate—on CNN, says he would be a good president,” one angry post read.
In the comments under this tweet, user flocked to express their disappointment. “In most other states, Cox would have run as a Dem. The passive, too-nice-for-their-own-good right in Utah blindly elected him because of the R next to his name without doing any research, and now pay the price as Utah slowly slides backward into problem after problem,” a popular response read.
Annoyed, one woman reacted, “Always been a snake. Utah should have an ultra red governor instead they have a Dem light.” Another added, “I have read many comments about Governor Cox after the Charlie Kirk assassination, and many don’t like him. Now we see why!”
Continuing the adverse reaction, another tweet quipped, “Utah Governor Spencer Cox gushes over Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and says he would be a great president. Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump were attacked in Cox and Shapiro’s states, respectively.”
Featured image from embedded video