Trump reportedly hosting Mar-a-Lago fundraiser for Dan Cox, candidate for Maryland governor
BALTIMORE -- Former President Donald Trump will host a fundraiser next month for Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox.
The event will be held with Cox at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida on Oct. 16, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Banner.
The invitation reportedly says guests can pay $1,776 -- the year the Declaration of Independence was adopted -- to attend a "private cocktail reception" at the club. A picture with Trump and Cox would reportedly cost an additional $25,000.
Maryland law caps donations at $6,000.
Cox, a far-right lawmaker endorsed by Trump, prevailed in July's primary over Kelly Schulz, a fellow Republican and former Maryland Commerce Secretary who had the backing of outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan.
An election denier who has taken a series of hard-line conservative positions, Cox faces disdain from fellow Republican and outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan, who told WJZ he will not be voting for Cox in November.
Democratic opponent Wes Moore holds a major fundraising advantage over Cox. According to August campaign finance reports, Moore raised $1.7 million in the five weeks after last month's primary, while Cox raised about $196,600 in the same time period.
Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer says Cox is the Republican candidate in Maryland because of Trump's endorsement.
"It certainly helped him among his Republican base," Kromer said.
However, she said that connection may ultimately hurt him in the general election campaign because only a third of Marylanders polled this month view the former president favorably.
"He's still a very popular figure in Republican politics, but he's not a popular figure among Democrats and a lot of Independents," Kromer said.
Moore holds a big lead in recent polling, with a 22-point lead over Cox, according to Goucher Poll results released Monday.
"(Dan Cox) doesn't have the campaign funding to really try to change the image of himself that most Marylanders already have in their mind," Kromer said.
Last month, Moore campaigned alongside President Joe Biden in Montgomery County.
In a statement to WJZ, Moore's spokesperson said Cox's fundraiser with Trump is a threat to Maryland, saying in part: "Election deniers stick together, and now Dan Cox is going all the way down to Florida with less than 50 days left in the election to kiss the ring. These men aren't patriots, they're a danger to our democracy."
WJZ reached out multiple times to the Cox's campaign team for comment, but we have not heard back.
