Utah Governor Spencer Cox talks healthy disagreement, depolarization

When Utah Republican Spencer J. Cox ran for governor in 2020, he recruited his Democratic opponent to make a joint advertisement in an attempt to model healthy political disagreement. The viral ad became a surprising catalyst for depolarization, Cox shared in a TED Talk on Wednesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, a pattern he said he hopes continues.

“I could actually feel my faith in the American idea start to rekindle,” Cox said. “The popularity of the ad validated my hope that most people really do want their political leaders to uphold the values that we teach our kids. That we can disagree without hate and contempt, even that we can find ways to treat each other with respect even when we disagree.”

Cox cited a poll from More in Common, revealing that 70% of Americans hate the divisiveness in politics. This sentiment, he said, was evident in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, where voters falsely claimed that the election was stolen, and angry protesters from both parties undermined the election’s validity. 

In response to the polarization, Cox launched the "Disagree Better" initiative to encourage a culture of healthy conflict and respect in politics. Cox’s ad with Democratic gubernatorial opponent Chris Peterson was a quintessential example of respectful political discourse: “We can debate issues without degrading each other's character,” Peterson said. “We can disagree without hating each other,” Cox added. 

Cox said that the problem in American politics stems from an exaggerated sense of division fueled by the media. 

“Americans hate the divisiveness in politics. And it also turns out that ... Americans aren't as far apart as we think we are. The problem isn't how far apart the average Republican and the average Democrat is on the actual issues… The problem is how far apart we think we are,” he said.

A Stanford University study found Cox’s ad had a significant depolarization effect, including reduced urges of violence. The positive results encouraged him to further push for unity, starting within American homes. Cox outlined four simple steps every American can take to mitigate political division. 

First, Cox urged Americans to tune out the “conflict entrepreneurs” of the media, noting how the media contributes to heightened stress levels. He then urged Americans to spend more time with those with different viewpoints than their own in an attempt to understand why they think the way they do and lower animosity. 

“​​In the words of Bryan Stevenson, proximity will empower you. You see, it's just harder to hate up close. ‘Tell me more about why you feel that way’ is a magical request,” he said. 

Third, Cox suggested that Americans should serve others as a way to raise positivity and foster a sense of community. Lastly, Cox said Americans should “develop the classical political virtues of humility, patience and moderation.” 

Cox, now governor of Utah,  said he believes that positive messages like the one he and Peterson shared in their joint campaign are what the American people want to hear. 

“Perhaps there really is an exhausted majority, I remember thinking to myself, and maybe this is the message they want to hear,” Cox said. 

After 20 governors across the United States followed his suit in similar ads, the key to healing the nation's stark divides lies in learning to disagree without animosity, Cox said. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is our solemn duty in our generation to once again secure the freedoms endowed to all of us from on high. We cannot wait for politicians or the media to do it. It will take real work, hard work by each of us. But we must remember how to disagree without hate,” Cox said. “If we really want to change the world, we have to start by changing our own hearts.”