{"id":2320296,"date":"2024-08-07T03:13:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T07:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawley-turns-once-blue-senate-seat-into-ruby-red-refuge-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-07T03:15:53","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T07:15:53","slug":"hawley-turns-once-blue-senate-seat-into-ruby-red-refuge-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawley-turns-once-blue-senate-seat-into-ruby-red-refuge-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawley turns once blue Senate seat into ruby red refuge &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhawley-turns-once-blue-senate-seat-into-ruby-red-refuge-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2320296&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses \u2062how Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has transformed Missouri&#8217;s Senate seat from a competitive Democratic stronghold, once held by Claire \u2064McCaskill, into a solid Republican bastion. McCaskill, known \u200cfor her political acumen, was a formidable figure for Democrats in a\u200c predominantly Republican state until she was defeated by Hawley in the 2018 midterm \u200belections. As Hawley gears up for his re-election, he faces Democrat Lucas\u2062 Kunce, who \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-navy-vet-wins-senate-primary-will-face-off-against-tim-kaine\/\" title=\"Trump-Endorsed Navy Veteran Triumphs in Senate Primary, Set to Challenge Tim Kaine\">previously ran unsuccessfully<\/a> for the party&#8217;s nomination.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley&#8217;s rise to prominence is attributed to his \u200dalignment with former President Donald Trump and his populist approach, appealing \u200cto\u2063 the state&#8217;s voters. His seat is now viewed as secure for Republicans, largely due to his recognition of the state&#8217;s \u200bshifting politics. Additionally, \u2064Hawley has occasionally allied with unexpected partners, such as Senator Bernie Sanders, to advocate for stimulus checks during the\u200b pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>At just 44, Hawley is seen as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-matt-gaetz-suggests-potential-desantis-2024-presidential-run\/\" title=\"Rep. Matt Gaetz Suggests Potential DeSantis 2024 Presidential Run\">potential presidential candidate<\/a>, often clashing \u2063with more traditional GOP leaders. \u200cHis willingness to \u2062take a \u200dstand on certain issues, even against the interests of establishment Republicans, has endeared him \u2063to\u200d voters who appreciate his assertiveness and \u200cpopulism. Notably, Hawley gained significant attention for his vocal support during the January 6 Capitol riots and has maintained a high profile in the Senate, often engaging with the media \u2062and his constituents.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Josh Hawley turns once-blue Missouri Senate seat into ruby-red refuge<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1460331\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>For more than a decade, former Missouri Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/361782\/claire-mccaskill-takes-shot-at-senators-for-being-more-focused-on-tv-hits-than-legislating\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Claire McCaskill\">Claire McCaskill<\/a> held a crucial seat for Democrats in a state otherwise dominated by Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>But in his first reelection since unseating two-term McCaskill in 2018, Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-hawley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Josh Hawley\">Josh Hawley<\/a> (R-MO) has turned the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1467918\/republicans-turn-to-josh-hawley-to-challenge-sen-claire-mccaskill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"once competitive\">once-competitive<\/a> Show-Me State seat into a GOP sanctuary that&rsquo;s out of reach for Democrats and an afterthought for election forecasters.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Claire McCaskill was the most talented Democratic Missouri politician of her generation,&rdquo; said Gregg Kelly, a Missouri GOP strategist and former Hawley campaign political adviser. &ldquo;She won elections she had no business winning for years in the state based on how progressive she was and yet how good of a politician she was.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hawley was unopposed in his primary on Tuesday. He&rsquo;ll now face Democrat Lucas Kunce, who ran unsuccessfully for his party&rsquo;s Senate nomination in 2022, in the November general election. The outcome is all but predetermined in Hawley&rsquo;s favor. But that wouldn&rsquo;t have always been the case.<\/p>\n<p>His quick rise to GOP stardom can be attributed to several factors, including his alliance with former President Donald Trump, a constant quest for the media spotlight, a streak of populism, and an influential wife in conservative politics.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is no surprise he is in a great position to serve a second term,&rdquo; Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), the state&rsquo;s other first-term senator, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Hawley ousted McCaskill in the 2018 midterm elections by roughly 6 percentage points, a wider-than-expected margin for a race with such national attention. That cycle, Republicans expanded their Senate majority by defeating McCaskill and several other Democratic incumbents, including in Florida, Indiana, and North Dakota.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley&rsquo;s seat is now considered as safe as it gets in the eyes of nonpartisan election watchers: &ldquo;solid Republican.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think that Josh recognized a populist bent of this state before a lot of other people, even on the Republican side, did,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;In some ways, I think he perfectly mirrors where your average Missouri family and average Missouri voter is.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hawley has, at times, forged some unexpected alliances, such as with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for the duo&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-decry-jordan-as-gop-speaker-nominee-extremist-extraordinaire\/\" title=\"House Democrats condemn Jordan as GOP speaker nominee: &#039;Extreme extremist&#039;\">vocal advocacy<\/a> during the pandemic for a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks. In 2022, he was among a trio of GOP senators to vote with Democrats to provide a week of paid sick leave for rail workers threatening to go on strike. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hawley, one of the youngest senators at age 44, is widely believed to have future presidential aspirations. Much to the chagrin of Senate Republican leadership, he&rsquo;s opposed establishment members like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and called for the party to bend more toward working-class voters and away from corporate executives.<\/p>\n<p>Even House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at one point found himself in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3008591\/mike-johnson-hawley-war-path-radiation-compensation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hawley's war path\">Hawley&rsquo;s warpath<\/a> in recent months over a bill to compensate Missouri radiation victims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Opposed by Republicans due to its cost, Hawley has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to attach the bill to other must-pass measures. The fund expired in early June, and only the Democratic-led Senate has passed the bill.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I always kind of laugh when Josh does something that the Chamber of Commerce crowd doesn&rsquo;t like, and they think that he&rsquo;s going to pay some sort of price for this at the ballot box,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;The exact opposite is true because Josh Hawley&rsquo;s voters like it when he picks and chooses his spots to speak truth to power to entrenched Republican interests. It&rsquo;s part of his allure. It&rsquo;s a feature, not a bug.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) listens during the Senate Judiciary Committee&rsquo;s hearing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hawley is a staunch supporter of Trump, who carried Missouri by roughly 16 points in 2020. In a now-infamous photo of Hawley raising his fist to the crowd of Trump supporters amassed outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, he was a leading proponent of overturning Electoral College results during Congress&rsquo;s certification of the election.<\/p>\n<p>In the same vein, perhaps his greatest skill, and most valuable as a senator, is the ability to land himself in the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley is one of the chattiest and most easily accessible senators for reporters at the Capitol, frequently pausing on his way to or from votes to talk at great lengths to those peppering him with questions. He&rsquo;s eager to offer behind-the-scenes details about private meetings among Senate Republicans where others are often tight-lipped. <\/p>\n<p>In the committee hearing rooms and in front of the cameras, Biden appointees testifying can often expect harsh lines of questioning from Hawley that become made-for-TV moments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there is a Republican U.S. senator today who is better at earned media than Josh Hawley,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;Josh Hawley sees something that is newsworthy, and he and his team recognize it immediately. They are decisive. He knows what he believes in. He stakes out a position, and he makes that position clear.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The senator isn&rsquo;t the only well-known Hawley among Republicans, particularly those in Missouri. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Erin Morrow Hawley, the Yale Law graduate and former Supreme Court clerk married to the senator, is also a staple in conservative politics for her legal career on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abort-republicans-dem-city-council-members-coffee-shop-sells-disturbing-stickers\/\" title=\"\u2018Abort Republicans\u2019: Dem City Council Member\u2019s Coffee Shop Sells Disturbing Stickers\">abortion-related cases<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As senior counsel for the conservative advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, she was on the legal teams responsible for getting <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em> overturned and the case that sought to restrict access to the popular medical abortion drug mifepristone.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1460331\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1460331\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Josh Hawley transforms Missouri&#8217;s once Democratic Senate seat into a stronghold for Republicans. For over ten years, former Senator Claire McCaskill was a key figure for Democrats in a predominantly Republican state. However, in his first reelection campaign after defeating McCaskill in 2018, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has solidified the Show-Me State seat as a GOP stronghold that seems unattainable for Democrats and largely ignored by election analysts. &#8220;Claire McCaskill was the most skilled Democratic politician from Missouri of her time,&#8221; remarked Gregg Kelly, a GOP strategist from Missouri and former advisor to Hawley&#8217;s campaign. &#8220;She managed to win elections against the odds due to her progressive stance and political acumen.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Hawley faced no opposition in his primary on Tuesday and will now compete against Democrat Lucas Kunce, who previously ran unsuccessfully for the Senate nomination in 2022, during the general election this November. The outcome appears heavily tilted in favor of Hawley. This wasn&#8217;t always guaranteed; his rapid ascent within the GOP can be linked to various factors such as his connection with former President Donald Trump, an ongoing desire for media attention, populist tendencies, and an influential wife involved in conservative politics.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s not surprising that he is well-positioned for another term,&#8221; stated Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), who is also serving his first term as senator from Missouri. In 2018, Hawley defeated McCaskill by approximately six percentage points\u2014a larger margin than anticipated given the national focus on that race\u2014contributing to Republicans expanding their Senate majority by unseating several other Democratic incumbents across states like Florida and Indiana.<\/p>\n<p>Now considered &#8220;solid Republican&#8221; by nonpartisan election observers, Hawley&#8217;s seat is viewed as extremely secure: \u201cI think Josh recognized this state&#8217;s populist leanings before many others did,\u201d Kelly noted. \u201cIn many ways, he reflects where typical Missouri families stand.\u201d At times he has formed unexpected partnerships; notably with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) advocating together during the pandemic for additional stimulus checks.<\/p>\n<p>At just 44 years old\u2014one of the youngest senators\u2014Hawley is seen as having presidential ambitions down the line. He has often clashed with establishment figures like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), pushing instead for policies that cater more towards working-class voters rather than corporate interests.<\/p>\n<p>Despite some tensions within party leadership over certain issues\u2014including recent disagreements with House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding compensation legislation related to radiation victims\u2014Hawley&#8217;s approach resonates positively with his constituents who appreciate when he challenges established Republican norms.<\/p>\n<p>A staunch supporter of Trump\u2014who won Missouri by about 16 points in 2020\u2014Hawley&#8217;s notoriety increased following an infamous moment when he raised his fist at Trump supporters outside Capitol Hill on January 6th while advocating against Electoral College results certification during Congress&#8217;s session.<\/p>\n<p>His ability to attract media attention stands out among senators; he&#8217;s known for being accessible and engaging extensively with reporters at Capitol Hill while providing insights into private discussions among Senate Republicans where others remain reticent.<\/p>\n<p>In committee hearings or public appearances involving Biden appointees testifying before Congress, witnesses can expect pointed questioning from him that often creates memorable moments suitable for television coverage: \u201cNo other Republican senator today excels at earned media quite like Josh Hawley,\u201d Kelly asserted about him recognizing newsworthy opportunities swiftly alongside decisive action based on firmly held beliefs articulated clearly through defined positions taken publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally notable within conservative circles is Erin Morrow Hawley\u2014the senator\u2019s wife\u2014a Yale Law graduate renowned herself within legal advocacy particularly concerning abortion-related cases through her role at Alliance Defending Freedom which played significant parts leading up Roe v Wade&#8217;s overturning along efforts aimed restricting access popular medical abortion drug mifepristone<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2320297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/josh-hawley-turns-old-blue-seat-republican-stronghold.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3690,37395,36181,23151,34723],"class_list":["post-2320296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-hawley","tag-missouri-politics","tag-political-transformation","tag-ruby-red","tag-senate-race"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/josh-hawley-turns-old-blue-seat-republican-stronghold.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2320296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2320296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2320296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2320296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}