Josh Hawley Bio
Joshua David Hawley (born December 31, 1979) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Missouri, a seat he has held since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Hawley served as the 42nd attorney general of Missouri from 2017 to 2019, before defeating two-term incumbent Democratic senator Claire McCaskill in the 2018 election. He was reelected in 2024.
Known for populist and socially conservative positions, Hawley gained national attention for leading Senate objections to certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Beyond politics, he has built a career as a constitutional law scholar, appellate litigator, and law professor at the University of Missouri School of Law.
Early Life and Background
Joshua David Hawley was born on December 31, 1979, in Springdale, Arkansas. He is the son of Ronald Hawley, a banker, and Virginia Hawley, a teacher. Growing up in a household that valued education and civic engagement, Hawley attended Rockhurst High School, a Jesuit preparatory school in Kansas City, Missouri. His early years were shaped by a blend of Midwestern and Southern influences that would later inform his political outlook.
Hawley went on to attend Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002. During his college years, he developed a strong interest in history, philosophy, and law, laying the groundwork for his future legal career. He later enrolled at Yale Law School, one of the nation’s most prestigious law programs, and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2006.
Path to US Politics
After law school, Joshua David Hawley clerked for Judge Michael W. McConnell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2006 to 2007, and then for Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court from 2007 to 2008. These clerkships exposed him to some of the most consequential legal debates in the country and helped him build a network within the conservative legal movement.
Following his clerkships, Hawley worked as an appellate litigator at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, now known as Hogan Lovells, from 2008 to 2011. He then returned to Missouri to serve as an associate professor at the University of Missouri Law School, where he taught constitutional law, constitutional theory, legislation, and torts. From 2011 to 2015, he also worked at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit organization specializing in religious liberty cases, where he contributed to briefs in major Supreme Court cases such as Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.
Josh Hawley Career
Early Career (2006-2015)
Joshua David Hawley’s early legal career was marked by prestigious clerkships and a rapid rise in the conservative legal world. His time clerking for Chief Justice John Roberts at the U.S. Supreme Court was particularly formative, giving him insight into the inner workings of the nation’s highest court. It was also during this period that he met his future wife, Erin Morrow, a fellow Yale Law graduate who was clerking for Roberts at the same time.
After his clerkships, Hawley transitioned into private practice at Hogan & Hartson, where he honed his skills as an appellate litigator. His move to the University of Missouri School of Law in 2011 allowed him to combine his passion for teaching with his interest in constitutional issues. His work at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty further cemented his reputation as a committed advocate for religious freedom.
Missouri Attorney General (2017-2019)
In 2016, Joshua David Hawley announced his candidacy for Missouri attorney general, positioning himself as a defender of conservative values and a critic of federal overreach. He won the 2016 election and was sworn in as the 42nd attorney general of Missouri in January 2017. During his tenure, he initiated several high-profile lawsuits and investigations, including a multistate lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act and an investigation into Missouri governor Eric Greitens.
Hawley also launched a statewide audit of untested rape kits in Missouri, an effort that identified nearly 5,000 kits. While critics argued that he was responding to issues raised by others rather than originating the investigation, the audit brought significant attention to the backlog. He also filed lawsuits against companies associated with the opioid epidemic, demonstrating a willingness to take on powerful corporate interests.
U.S. Senate (2019-Present)
Joshua David Hawley was sworn in as a United States senator from Missouri on January 3, 2019, after defeating two-term Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill in the 2018 election. His Senate campaign was supported by prominent Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump. Upon taking office, Hawley quickly established himself as a vocal advocate for populist and socially conservative causes.
In December 2020, Hawley became the first senator to announce plans to object to the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, a move that drew both praise from supporters and sharp criticism from opponents. He has since been a prominent voice on issues ranging from antitrust reform and China policy to labor rights and election integrity. In 2024, he won reelection to a second Senate term, defeating Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most defining moments of Hawley’s career came in December 2020, when he led efforts in the Senate to object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, making him the first senator to announce such a challenge. This action drew national attention and controversy, particularly in the wake of the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Hawley has consistently defended his actions, arguing that he was representing the concerns of his constituents.
Josh Hawley Career Wins
Joshua David Hawley has achieved several significant political milestones throughout his career, including winning election as Missouri attorney general in 2016, defeating a two-term incumbent U.S. senator in 2018, and securing reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024. His victories reflect his ability to mobilize a strong base of supporters in Missouri and beyond.
U.S. Senate Highlights
Hawley’s first U.S. Senate win came in 2018, when he defeated Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill by a margin of 51% to 46%. His 2024 reelection campaign saw him face Democratic nominee Lucas Kunce, a U.S. Marine veteran, in a race that drew significant national attention. Hawley ultimately prevailed, solidifying his position as a leading voice in the Republican Party.
Other Wins and Achievements
In addition to his electoral successes, Hawley has been recognized for his legislative efforts, including his work on the National Security and Personal Data Protection Act and his advocacy for U.S. manufacturing. He has also been a vocal critic of China, which he has called the greatest security threat to the United States in this century, and has pushed for policies aimed at countering Chinese influence on the global stage.
Josh Hawley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Joshua David Hawley was born to Ronald Hawley, a banker, and Virginia Hawley, a teacher. He married Erin Morrow Hawley, a fellow Yale Law School graduate and associate professor of law at Regent University School of Law, in 2010. The couple has three children. After Hawley was elected to the U.S. Senate, the family purchased a home in Vienna, Virginia, while maintaining ties to Columbia, Missouri, where they had previously resided.
Hawley was raised Methodist but now attends an Evangelical Presbyterian Church with his family. His personal life has occasionally drawn public attention, particularly regarding his residency in Jefferson City, Missouri, during his tenure as attorney general, which led to some political controversy.