Phil Cox (born c. 1974)[1] is an American long-time political operative, having served as the campaign manager or senior strategist to more than one hundred campaigns and super-pacs for Congress, Governor, U.S. Senate, and President. He is co-founder of 50 State, a bipartisan, state-focused government affairs firm, co-founder of GuidePostStrategies, a federal government affairs firm, Chairman of IMGE, a digital marketing firm, and partner at P2, a 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. GovernorJohn 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.
In 2015–2016, Cox founded and directed America Leads, the presidential Super-PAC supporting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
In 2018, Cox served as chairman and senior advisor to super-PACs in support of candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, and managed Independent Expenditure campaigns on behalf of the RGA in a handful of governors races, including the only pick-up of the cycle in Alaska. [10][11][9]
In 2019, Cox served as co-chair for Trade Works for America, a national campaign which helped pass the USMCA trade agreement, making a number of public and national media appearances.
50 State, GuidePost Strategies, P2 Public Affairs, 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 affairs firm serving corporations, trade associations, and national non-profit organizations.[12]
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. In 2018, former White House Legislative Director, Marc Short, joined GuidePost as a partner.[13]
Cox is a founding partner of P2 Public Affairs, a specialized communications and strategy firm that runs advocacy campaigns across the nation and in Washington, D.C.
Cox serves as chairman of the Board of IMGE,[14] a digital consulting and marketing firm, on the board of directors for the Senate Leadership Fund, on the board of directors for WinRed, on the Board of Advisors for N2 America, 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.
