Ed Cox, Longtime NY GOP Chairman, to Join Trump Campaign

Ed Cox, the longtime chairman of the New York state Republican Party, will step down to raise money for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

Trump’s campaign announced the move on Monday. It comes as Cox faced a strong challenge for the party chairmanship from Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy, who will now take over as chairman when Cox steps down in July.

“Ensuring President Trump is re-elected is the most critical task at hand and I’m honored to take on the important role of helping deliver the resources he needs for a huge victory next year,” Cox said in a statement emailed to reporters. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale called Cox “a fantastic state party chairman” and said he “can’t think of anyone better” to join Trump 2020’s campaign finance team.

Langworthy, 38, had recently won the support of several key county party chairs and appeared poised to win his challenge. A telephone message left for him on Monday was not immediately returned.

Cox, a 72-year-old Manhattan attorney, has led the state GOP since 2009. He is the son-in-law of the late President Richard M. Nixon.

Some Republicans had called for a change in leadership following recent GOP election losses.

Last fall, the party lost control of the state Senate, giving up their last bastion in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than a 2-1 margin. Even before winning the state Senate, Democrats already enjoyed an overwhelming majority in the Assembly and hold all four statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats.

“Chairman Nick Langworthy is a breath of fresh air in New York’s Republican political climate,” Rockland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Garvey said in a statement. “He brings an energy and passion that we haven’t seen in years and I’m excited to work with him. We must unite and focus on the larger task at hand, rebuilding the NYGOP.”