Utah's Republican governor, Spencer Cox, credits himself with making Utah "one of the most prosperous and well managed states in the country," but at least one constituent isn't satisfied.
But this dissatisfaction isn't a result of the governor's policies, but his last name.
Cox was sent a letter by a constituent excoriating him for his supposedly profane surname, which happens to be homophonous to a crass term for a certain body part.
The governor posted the bizarre letter on Twitter.
Really grateful for the criticism and constructive feedback I get from constituents that demand I\u2026\n\n*checks notes*\n\n\u2026change my name? pic.twitter.com/RavFip8U4M— Spencer Cox (@Spencer Cox) 1628300281
Signed by "A very concerned citizen," the letter reads in part:
"I do not know if you know this, but when people say your surname it sounds like the word cock. It's obscene! Us decent people here in Utah will not stand for it. The honorable Republican party will not stand for it. Most importantly, I will not stand for it. Because of your reluctance to change your foul, dirty and obscene surname myself and thousands of other Utahns will be sitting in protest, not standing, until you change your heinous surname to something less offensive."
The absurd letter continued:
"This is a social justice issue and we will not be denied basic human decency! If our simple request is not met we will assemble and do what democracy was made to do by recalling you from office because of your filthy surname. This is not a communist dictatorship. THIS IS THE GREAT STATE OF UTAH! We do not accept sick jokes to run rampant in our civil institutions. We demand a response to this letter and we expect to hear back from your office soon."
If the complainer is somehow writing in earnest, they're likely to be disappointed, because social media users soon began mocking the unhinged request.
This is so duuuumb lmaohttps://twitter.com/spencerjcox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Breezus (@Breezus) 1628887622
This is not a communist dictatorship! This is Utah! Our men do not have Cox!https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— @rno (@@rno) 1628892068
Our governor gets insane letters from trolls.\nOn the plus side... it is signed "Love". https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— David Berri (@David Berri) 1628874233
Is this just a Utah thing? I'm so embarrassed for this person Cox is the 51st most popular surname in the u.s. #cox #coxnotcocks #utahhttps://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Joey Baine (@Joey Baine) 1628866252
This guy really just walks around with his name hanging out for all to see. I mean first Cox, then what? A communist dictatorship? \n#Utah #Coxhttps://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Michael Lachky (@Michael Lachky) 1628817530
Tooooooooop funny!!!https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— CyrusMehra (@CyrusMehra) 1628776259
Of course, people thought the writer was blowing things out of proportion.
Before firing a gun? You cock it: \n\nMaybe gunowners need to change too!!! haha.https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Elliot James Winfree, III (@Elliot James Winfree, III) 1628764478
What is wrong with this person and the thousands they say they represent in this letter, have they gone mad? Totally FOOLISH request.https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Jocelynn Kountze@ (@Jocelynn Kountze@) 1628730255
Oh brother.....https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/status/1423820696040345600\u00a0\u2026— Concerned Citizen (@Concerned Citizen) 1628825019
At least letters like these won't let the governor get cocky.
Judd Legum (@juddlegum.bsky.social)
@SenTinaSmith/X; @elonmusk/X
@smith.senate.gov/BlueSky
@elonmusk/X
@mcrs987/X
