Hawley endorses Hartzler for U.S. Senate, providing a potential boost to her campaign
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley gave his backing on Saturday to Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s campaign to join him in the U.S. Senate.
At Missouri State Lincoln Days, an annual gathering of Republicans in the state, Hawley told reporters he settled on Hartzler because he thinks she’ll be a strong voice for Missouri.
“It is my privilege and my honor to support Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler to be the next United States senator from the state of Missouri,” Hawley said in St. Charles, a St. Louis suburb. “Vicky is someone I’m confident has the integrity, she has the character, she’s got the toughness to do this job and to represent the state with exemplary colors.”
For months, Hawley has put off questions about whether he’ll endorse someone in the crowded Republican primary to replace U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. Earlier this year, his campaign put out an internal poll that suggested his choice carried significant weight, teasing the fact that he would eventually endorse in the race.
Hartzler has been polling in third place behind former Gov. Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Hawley’s endorsement could boost her campaign.
It could also be perceived as a slight against Schmitt, who was Hawley’s successor as Attorney General. But Hartzler and Hawley share a similar ideological alignment — they lean heavily on conservative religious values — and different styles as politicians that could be complimentary in the Senate.
“The type of voter who really likes Josh is the type of voter that would really lean toward Vicky,” Brad Todd, a founding partner at OnMessage, said in December.
In Washington Hartzler and Hawley, who both use the campaign consulting firm OnMessage, have focused on issues like the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and preventing members of Congress from trading individual stock. Earlier this week they co-authored an op-ed arguing for a trade ban.
The endorsement further cements their connection in Congress.
“I’m so honored by your endorsement and I’m just blessed and looking forward to working with you to pull our country back from the brink,” Hartzler said.
Republicans in Washington D.C. have raised concerns about Greitens. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear he’s concerned Greitens, who left office amid sexual abuse and campaign finance scandals, could jeopardize the Republican Party’s ability to maintain control of Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat. Hawley called on Greitens to resign during the scandal and downplayed his entry into the Senate campaign.
Still, Greitens has made a play for a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump who has continued to flex his political power with the Republican base since leaving office. Greitens hosted former Trump adviser Rudy Guiliani at a fundraiser and has the backing of Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News personality who dates Trump’s son.
Rep. Billy Long and Schmitt are also seeking the Trump endorsement. Long hired former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway as a campaign adviser and Schmitt has the backing of Pam Bondi, who runs Trump’s Super PAC.
Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz and St. Louis Attorney Mark McCloskey are also campaigning for the seat.