Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is urging Americans and political leaders to de-escalate political tensions, stating that a significant portion of the country is "desperate for something better" amid heightened polarization. Cox, promoting his upcoming book "Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt," spoke with ABC News about the need to move beyond hyper-partisanship and contempt.
"70% of this country doesn't like where we are right now," Cox told ABC News co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "They're tired of the hyper-partisanship. They're tired of the contempt and they're desperate for something better, something different."
Cox's call for a new path forward comes nearly a year after the fatal shooting of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk during a public event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Kirk, known for engaging in debates with those who disagreed with him, was killed in an incident that thrust Cox into the national spotlight for his conciliatory rhetoric.
Following the shooting, Cox stated at a press conference, "We can return violence with violence. We can return hate with hate. At some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much worse."
In his book, Cox outlines a "blueprint" for Americans to reduce political polarization by finding common ground. He expressed concern that the U.S. is heading toward a "complete failure of our democratic republic and its institutions." He told Raddatz that this drift is not the responsibility of any single party or person, but a national challenge.
Cox also shared his personal experience with social media, advising Americans to disconnect from algorithms and screens. He admitted to being a "Twitter addict" last year but found that deleting the app improved his outlook.
Amidst speculation about a potential presidential run, Cox stated unequivocally that he is not running for president and does not desire the job. "I'm not running for president. No, really," he wrote in his book. However, he noted that "the party that figures out that Americans are tired of the toxicity will do very very well in the election," expressing hope that his party might be the one to achieve this in 2028.