Brian Fox, a former Republican city council candidate, reportedly died at his Bay Ridge home on Nov. 8.
Fox’s former campaign manager, Liam McCabe, posted on Facebook on Nov. 9, announcing that Fox died in his sleep at his home on Wednesday night at age 34.
“Brian was a larger than life teddy bear who got into politics as a regular neighborhood guy two years ago because he was just fed up. He ended up shocking the political world with his near victory and made so many friends and followers along the way,” McCabe wrote. “My wife and I were lucky to call him a close friend and he became life family to us. His enthusiasm and love was infectious to all of us and you always felt better when you were around him.”
Fox ran on the Republican ticket during the 2021 and 2022 election cycles, promising to be tough on crime in southern Brooklyn, but ultimately failed to secure a seat. According to his LinkedIn page, Fox most recently served as the business development manager at tech solutions company ID Tech Solutions Inc.
During the 2021 city council elections, Fox positioned himself as a political outsider and came close to unseating Democrat Justin Brannan on election night, but lost out on representing the former 43rd District after mail-in ballots were counted.
Last year he faced off against state Sen. Andrew Gounardes to represent the 36th Senate District but lost by some 48,000 votes.
Republican Council Member Ari Kagan said he was saddened to learn of Fox’s passing, noting he was one of the first people to get behind his campaign this year. Kagan lost to Brannan on Nov. 7 in the race to represent the newly-redrawn 47th District, which covers the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Coney Island.
“He was always optimistic and I will remember his smile. My thoughts and prayers are with his family tonight. RIP, Brian,” Kagan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
President of the Brooklyn Tea Party Glenn Nocera also paid tribute to Fox, posting on Facebook: “You will be missed Brian. I will miss our long conversations talking about politics on the phone and seeing you at the Brooklyn Tea Party where you spoke several times to our membership as a guest speaker. May God bless your soul and may you rest in peace my friend.”
