Career Timeline of Josh Hawley: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Josh Hawley built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Josh Hawley is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Missouri since 2019. A Republican, he previously served as the Missouri Attorney General from 2017 to 2019. He gained national attention for his role in objecting to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Hawley defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in 2018 and was reelected in 2024.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1988: First Republican Attorney General

In 1988, Josh Hawley became the state's first Republican attorney general since 1988.

2000: Intern at The Heritage Foundation

During the summer of 2000, Josh Hawley worked as an intern at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

2002: Hawley Taught at St Paul's School

From 2002 to 2003, Josh Hawley spent ten months in London teaching at St Paul's School.

2006: Hawley Clerks for Judge McConnell

From 2006 to 2007, Josh Hawley clerked for Judge Michael W. McConnell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

2007: Hawley Clerks for Chief Justice Roberts

From 2007 to 2008, Josh Hawley clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court.

2007: The Mission Continues Founded

In 2007, Eric Greitens founded The Mission Continues, a veterans' charity.

2008: Hawley Joins Hogan & Hartson

From 2008 to 2011, Josh Hawley worked in private practice as an appellate litigator at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, now known as Hogan Lovells.

2008: Hawley Ends Clerkship with Roberts

In 2008, Josh Hawley concluded his clerkship with Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court.

2011: Hawley Returns to Missouri and Joins University of Missouri Law School

In 2011, Josh Hawley returned to Missouri and became an associate professor at the University of Missouri Law School.

2012: Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

In 2012, Josh Hawley wrote briefs and gave legal advice in the Supreme Court case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, while working at Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

2013: Beliefs on Personhood and Birth Control

In 2013, Josh Hawley stated his belief that human life and personhood begin at fertilization, before conception, and expressed opposition to forms of birth control that prevent conception by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg.

2014: Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

In 2014, Josh Hawley wrote briefs and gave legal advice in the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, while working at Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

July 23, 2015: Hawley Launches Attorney General Campaign

On July 23, 2015, Josh Hawley launched his campaign for attorney general of Missouri.

December 2015: Support for Exemptions from Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies

In December 2015, Josh Hawley supported exemptions for Missouri "businesses and religious groups from participating in same-sex ... marriage ceremonies".

2015: Hawley Leaves Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

In 2015, Josh Hawley left the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

August 2, 2016: Hawley Defeats Kurt Schaefer in Republican Primary

On August 2, 2016, Josh Hawley defeated Kurt Schaefer in the Republican primary for Missouri attorney general with 64% of the vote.

2016: Greitens' Campaign for Governor

In 2016, Eric Greitens had a campaign for governor.

2016: NRA Rating

In 2016, Josh Hawley received an 86% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

January 9, 2017: Hawley Sworn in as Attorney General

On January 9, 2017, Josh Hawley was sworn in as the attorney general of Missouri.

June 2017: Missouri Sues Drug Companies

In June 2017, Josh Hawley announced that Missouri had filed suit against Endo Health Solutions, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Purdue Pharma for allegedly hiding the dangers of prescription painkillers.

August 2017: Investigation into Opioid Distributors Opened

In August 2017, Josh Hawley announced that he had opened an investigation into seven opioid distributors: Allergan, Depomed, Insys, Mallinckrodt, Mylan, Pfizer, and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

August 2017: Forms exploratory campaign committee

In August 2017, Josh Hawley formed an exploratory campaign committee for the U.S. Senate.

October 2017: Declares candidacy for U.S. Senate

In October 2017, Josh Hawley declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in Missouri's 2018 U.S. Senate election.

October 2017: Investigation into Opioid Distributors Expanded

In October 2017, Josh Hawley expanded his investigation into three additional pharmaceutical companies—AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson Corporation—that are the three largest U.S. opioid distributors.

November 2017: Trump endorses Hawley

In November 2017, Donald Trump endorsed Josh Hawley in his campaign for U.S. Senate. The Affordable Care Act and the confirmation of CIA Director Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State became central issues during the general election campaign.

November 2017: Investigation into Google Opened

In November 2017, Josh Hawley opened an investigation into whether Google's business practices violated state consumer protection and anti-trust laws.

December 20, 2017: Hawley to Investigate Greitens' Use of Messaging App

On December 20, 2017, Josh Hawley announced that his office would investigate Governor Eric Greitens' use of Confide, a messaging app that erases texts, for potential violations of Missouri's open records laws.

April 2018: Subpoena Issued to Facebook

In April 2018, after the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal, Josh Hawley announced that his office had issued a subpoena to Facebook related to how the company shares its users' data.

May 2018: Statewide Audit Results Made Public

In May 2018, the results of Josh Hawley's statewide audit of the number of untested rape kits were made public, revealing nearly 5,000 such kits.

May 29, 2018: Greitens Announces Resignation

On May 29, 2018, Governor Eric Greitens announced that he would resign effective June 1, 2018. Josh Hawley issued a statement approving of the decision.

August 2018: Investigation into clergy sexual abuse

In August 2018, Josh Hawley announced that he would begin an investigation into potential cases of sexual abuse by Catholic clerics in Missouri, following a report in Pennsylvania and protests in St. Louis.

September 2018: Full Support for Trump's Trade Actions

In September 2018, Josh Hawley voiced his full support for President Trump's trade actions, asserting that "It's a trade war that China started. If we're in a war, I want to be winning it."

November 2018: Hawley defeated McCaskill

In the November 2018 general election, Josh Hawley defeated Claire McCaskill, 51% to 46%.

2018: Hawley's U.S. Senate campaign

During Josh Hawley's 2018 U.S. Senate campaign, he violated Missouri's open records law by withholding emails between his out-of-state political consultants and his taxpayer-funded staff.

2018: Hawley and McCaskill on Khashoggi Assassination

During a debate in the 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley and Claire McCaskill agreed that the U.S. should respond severely if the Saudi government was confirmed to be behind the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.

2018: Position on Right-to-Work Legislation

During his 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley didn't take a firm position on right-to-work legislation in Missouri. His spokesperson stated that "nobody should be forced to pay union dues," regarding right-to-work, which would hamper labor unionizing.

2018: Hawley Criticizes McCaskill's Support for Iran Nuclear Deal

During his 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley's press office criticized Claire McCaskill for supporting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, suggesting she was siding with the mullahs and John Kerry instead of President Trump and Israel.

2018: Opposition to Missouri Minimum Wage Raise

In 2018, Josh Hawley expressed opposition to raising the Missouri minimum wage from $7.85/hour to $8.60 in 2019 and $12 by 2023.

2018: U.S. Senate election

In 2018, Josh Hawley ran for the Republican nomination in Missouri's U.S. Senate election for the seat held by Democrat Claire McCaskill.

2018: NRA Rating and Gun Control Stance

In 2018, Josh Hawley received a 93% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). During his Senate campaign in 2018, Hawley used National Media as a media consultant, the same firm the NRA employs. While he doesn't support an assault weapons ban, he supports strengthening background checks, banning bump stocks, and preventing mentally ill individuals from owning guns.

2018: Support for Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court Nomination

In 2018, Josh Hawley's first commercial in his Senate campaign focused on supporting Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. After Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault, Hawley defended him and accused Democrats of staging an "ambush".

2018: Criticism of the Affordable Care Act

In 2018, during his Senate campaign, Josh Hawley criticized the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and highlighted his support for protections for individuals with preexisting conditions. He later wrote about creating a taxpayer subsidy to reimburse insurance companies for covering high-cost patients.

January 3, 2019: Sworn in as U.S. senator

On January 3, 2019, Josh Hawley was sworn in as a U.S. senator.

April 3, 2019: Sponsorship of the VERDAD Act

On April 3, 2019, Josh Hawley joined a bipartisan group to sponsor the Venezuelan Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance and Development (VERDAD) Act. This bill aimed to recognize Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela, provide $200 million in aid for Venezuela and neighboring countries, revoke U.S. visas from sanctioned Venezuelan officials, and remove sanctions on officials not accused of human rights abuses who recognized Guaidó.

June 2019: Role in preventing Michael S. Bogren's appointment

In June 2019, Josh Hawley played a major role in preventing Trump nominee Michael S. Bogren from being appointed as a district judge for the Western District of Michigan, accusing Bogren of "anti-religious animus".

August 2019: Introduction of the SMART Act

In August 2019, Josh Hawley introduced the Social Media Addiction Reduction Technology (SMART) Act. This bill aimed to ban features like infinite scrolling and auto-play to reduce internet addiction, limiting platform use to 30 minutes per day unless settings are manually changed monthly.

September 2019: Referral of former priests for prosecution

In September 2019, Josh Hawley's successor, Eric Schmitt, the attorney general, referred 12 former priests for prosecution based on charges of sexual abuse of minors, following up on the investigation initiated by Hawley.

October 2019: Visit to Hong Kong during protests

During the Hong Kong protests in October 2019, Josh Hawley visited Hong Kong and spoke in favor of the protests. He called the city a "police state", which was criticized by Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam.

November 18, 2019: Announces National Security and Personal Data Protection Act

On November 18, 2019, Josh Hawley announced the National Security and Personal Data Protection Act, which would make it illegal for American companies to store user data or encryption keys in China. The bill might cause problems for companies such as Apple and TikTok.

2019: Opposition to Missouri Minimum Wage Raise

In 2019, Josh Hawley expressed opposition to raising the Missouri minimum wage from $7.85/hour to $8.60 in 2019 and $12 by 2023.

March 2020: Proposal of "No TikTok on Government Devices Act"

In March 2020, Josh Hawley and other senators proposed the "No TikTok on Government Devices Act". The act aimed to prevent federal employees from downloading the app TikTok, which Hawley had previously described as "a Chinese-owned social media platform so popular among teens that Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly spooked".

April 2020: Hawley's Proposal to Pay Businesses During COVID-19

In April 2020, Josh Hawley proposed that the U.S. government pay businesses to keep their workers on payroll for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and rehire any workers who had already been laid off.

May 5, 2020: Call for Abolition of WTO

On May 5, 2020, Josh Hawley called for the abolition of the World Trade Organization in The New York Times. He argued that it didn't serve American interests and had "enabled the rise of China." He introduced a resolution to withdraw the U.S. from the WTO shortly afterward.

June 2020: Criticism of Bostock v. Clayton County Supreme Court Ruling

In June 2020, following the Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County that federal law prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, Josh Hawley criticized the decision, stating it "represents the end of the conservative legal movement".

July 2020: Hawley on Supreme Court Nominee and Roe v. Wade

In July 2020, Josh Hawley wrote that to earn his support, a Supreme Court nominee must have publicly asserted that Roe v. Wade was incorrectly decided.

September 9, 2020: Shortlisted for Supreme Court Nomination

On September 9, 2020, President Trump announced that Josh Hawley, along with Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, were on his shortlist for potential nominations to the Supreme Court. While Hawley expressed appreciation, he declined the offer, stating that Missourians elected him to serve them in the Senate.

October 27, 2020: Vote to Confirm Amy Coney Barrett

On October 27, 2020, Josh Hawley voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.

December 2020: Hawley and Sanders Demand Stimulus Payments

In December 2020, Josh Hawley teamed up with Senator Bernie Sanders to demand that any new stimulus deal include direct payments of at least $1,200 to American workers.

2020: Refusal to concede election

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Josh Hawley elevated false claims that President-elect Joe Biden stole the election and attempted to reverse the election result.

January 6, 2021: Objected to certification of Electoral College vote

On January 6, 2021, Josh Hawley announced his intention to object to the Senate's certification of the Electoral College vote count. He was the first senator to do so. Hawley said that his attempt to reverse the election result was on behalf of those "concerned about election integrity."

February 8, 2021: Voted against Denis McDonough's nomination

On February 8, 2021, after he voted against the nomination of Denis McDonough for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Josh Hawley became the only senator to vote against all of President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees except Cecilia Rouse.

May 2021: Publication of "The Tyranny of Big Tech"

In May 2021, Josh Hawley's book "The Tyranny of Big Tech" was published. The book criticizes Big Tech and social media companies, advocating for regulation of Internet companies. The Tyranny of Big Tech raises valid concerns about the technology industry, and he proposes solutions worth taking seriously.

2021: Supports increase of coronavirus relief checks

In 2021, Josh Hawley joined President Donald Trump in his calls for an increase of the initial $600 coronavirus relief checks to $2,000. He attempted to force a vote to increase the checks, but it was blocked by other Republican senators.

2021: Support for a $15 Minimum Wage for Large Businesses

In 2021, Josh Hawley voiced his support for a $15 minimum wage specifically for businesses with over $1 billion in annual revenue.

August 3, 2022: Sole vote against Sweden and Finland joining NATO

On August 3, 2022, Josh Hawley cast the sole vote against the Senate resolution agreeing to Sweden and Finland joining the NATO defense alliance, which passed 95-1. Hawley stated the resolutions were not in America's best interest, with China posing a greater threat than Russia.

2023: Opposition to Missouri Minimum Wage Raise

In 2023, Josh Hawley expressed opposition to raising the Missouri minimum wage from $7.85/hour to $8.60 in 2019 and $12 by 2023.

2023: Support for United Auto Workers

In 2023, Josh Hawley shifted his stance on union issues, joining United Auto Workers at a picket line and advocating for better wages and working conditions, stating that the company could afford to pay it.

2024: Continued Support for United Auto Workers

In 2024, Josh Hawley continued his support for United Auto Workers, joining them at a picket line and advocating for better wages and working conditions.

January 2025: Proposed Legislation Against Chinese AI Models

In January 2025, Josh Hawley proposed legislation to criminalize the use of Chinese-developed AI models like DeepSeek, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine. The bill also aimed to prohibit academic collaborations with AI researchers in China and obstruct transparency requirements as well as research developments outside proprietary Big Tech environments.

October 2025: Support for SNAP

In October 2025, Josh Hawley described the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as an "essential" "lifeline", "not an optional extra", and "one of our most vital forms of aid", stating, "nobody in America, this richest of nations, should go to bed hungry, and certainly no child".

2025: Op-Ed on Federal Food Assistance

During the 2025 federal government shutdown, Josh Hawley wrote an op-ed in The New York Times titled "No American Should Go to Bed Hungry". He wrote that on November 1, approximately 42 million Americans would lose federal food assistance and called for bipartisan cooperation to prevent this.

2025: Vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

In 2025, Hawley voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite criticizing its Medicaid provisions as "morally wrong and politically suicidal," expressing concerns about the potential loss of healthcare for Missouri workers and the closure of hospitals if Medicaid funding were cut.

2025: Co-sponsorship of $15 Minimum Wage Bill

In 2025, Josh Hawley is co-sponsoring a bill with Peter Welch to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, indexed to inflation, for all businesses. He also supported a tax credit for workers making less than $16.50 an hour.