Hawley Wins GOP Primary to Take On McCaskill in Missouri

McCaskill is one of the most vulnerable incumbents

Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill is a top GOP target. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill is a top GOP target. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Posted August 7, 2018 at 9:44pm

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley has secured the Republican nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.

Hawley was expected to win Tuesday’s primary, and he easily defeated the 10 other Republicans on the ballot. 

With 14 percent of precincts reporting, the 38-year-old attorney general led with 59 percent of the vote, when The Associated Press called the race. Air Force veteran Tony Monetti was a distant second with 9 percent.

The Missouri Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, with McCaskill one of five Senate Democrats running in states that President Donald Trump carried by double digits. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Senate race a Toss-up.