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 challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. Hawley defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in 2018 and secured reelection in 2024, solidifying his position in the Senate. He is known for his conservative political views and his focus on issues related to social conservatism and economic nationalism.
1988: First Republican Attorney General Since 1988
In 1988, Hawley became the state's first Republican attorney general since 1988.
2000: Intern at The Heritage Foundation
In the summer of 2000, Josh Hawley was an intern at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
2002: Taught at St Paul's School in London
From 2002, Josh Hawley spent ten months in London teaching at St Paul's School.
2006: Clerked for Judge McConnell
From 2006, Josh Hawley spent two years as a law clerk, clerking first for Judge Michael W. McConnell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
2007: Clerked for Chief Justice Roberts
From 2007, Josh Hawley clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court.
2008: Started Private Practice
From 2008, Josh Hawley worked as a lawyer in private practice until 2011.
2008: Worked at Hogan & Hartson
From 2008, Josh Hawley worked in private practice as an appellate litigator at the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells).
2011: Joined Becket Fund and University of Missouri
In 2011, Josh Hawley joined the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and became an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Law.
2011: Returned to Missouri and joined University of Missouri Law School
In 2011, Josh Hawley returned to Missouri and became an associate professor at the University of Missouri Law School, teaching constitutional law, constitutional theory, legislation, and torts, and joined Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
2012: Supreme Court Case
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 at Becket.
2014: Supreme Court Case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby
In 2014, Josh Hawley wrote briefs and gave legal advice in the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby while at Becket.
July 23, 2015: Launched Campaign for Attorney General
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: Left Becket Fund
In 2015, Josh Hawley ended his association with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
2015: Left Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
In 2015, Josh Hawley was with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
August 2, 2016: Defeated Kurt Schaefer in Republican Primary
On August 2, 2016, Josh Hawley defeated Kurt Schaefer in the Republican primary with 64% of the vote.
2016: NRA Rating
In 2016, Josh Hawley received an 86% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).
January 9, 2017: Sworn in as Attorney General
On January 9, 2017, Josh Hawley was sworn in as 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 contributing to the opioid epidemic.
August 2017: Investigation into Opioid Distributors
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.
October 2017: Expanded Investigation into Pharmaceutical Companies
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: Investigation into Google
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: Investigation Announced
On December 20, 2017, Josh Hawley announced his office would investigate the use of Confide app by Governor Greitens and his staff after initially declining to prosecute.
2017: Became Attorney General of Missouri
In 2017, Josh Hawley became the 42nd Attorney General of Missouri, serving until 2019.
April 2018: Subpoena 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: Release of Rape Kit Audit Results
In May 2018, the results of Josh Hawley's statewide audit of untested rape kits were made public, revealing nearly 5,000 such kits.
September 2018: Support for Trump's Trade Actions
In September 2018, Josh Hawley fully supported Trump's trade actions, saying, "It's a trade war that China started. If we're in a war, I want to be winning it."
2018: Position on Pre-existing Conditions
During his 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley stated his support for protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.
2018: Position on Right-to-Work Legislation
During his 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley's spokesperson stated that "nobody should be forced to pay union dues" regarding right-to-work legislation in Missouri.
2018: Defeated Claire McCaskill
In 2018, Josh Hawley defeated Claire McCaskill in the election for U.S. Senator.
2018: Opposition to Missouri Minimum Wage Raise
In 2018, Josh Hawley expressed opposition to a raise in the Missouri minimum wage from $7.85/hour to $8.60 in 2019 and $12 by 2023.
2018: NRA Rating and Gun Control Stance
In 2018, Josh Hawley received a 93% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). While he does not support an assault weapons ban, he supports some gun-control measures, including strengthening background checks, banning bump stocks, and banning mentally ill people from owning guns. Also in 2018, National Media, a media consultant employed by the NRA, was used for his Senate campaign.
2018: Support for Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination
In his first commercial during the 2018 Senate campaign, Josh Hawley focused on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. After Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault, Hawley defended him and said that Democrats had staged an "ambush".
April 3, 2019: Sponsorship of the VERDAD Act
On April 3, 2019, Josh Hawley co-sponsored the Venezuelan Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance and Development (VERDAD) Act. The bill aimed to recognize Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela, provide $200 million in aid for Venezuela and its neighboring countries, revoke U.S. visas from sanctioned Venezuelan officials, and remove sanctions on officials not accused of human rights abuses who recognized Guaidó.
July 16, 2019: Hawley speaks at National Conservatism Conference
On July 16, 2019, Josh Hawley spoke at the National Conservatism Conference, organized by Israeli professor Yoram Hazony.
August 2019: Introduction of the SMART Act
In August 2019, Josh Hawley introduced the Social Media Addiction Reduction Technology (SMART) Act. The act would ban features, such as infinite scrolling and auto-play, that he says encourage internet addiction. The act would limit users to 30 minutes per day on a platform unless they manually change the settings once a month.
October 2019: Hawley visits Hong Kong and criticizes Beijing
In October 2019, Josh Hawley visited Hong Kong to observe the protests and commented on Twitter that Beijing was trying to turn Hong Kong into a "police state," which Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam called "irresponsible."
November 19, 2019: U.S. Senate passes Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
On November 19, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which Hawley co-sponsored.
2019: Became US Senator
In 2019, Josh Hawley became the senior United States Senator from Missouri, a position he has held since.
2019: Minimum Wage Stance
In 2019, Josh Hawley had voiced opposition to a minimum wage increase in Missouri.
March 2020: Proposal of "No TikTok on Government Devices Act"
In March 2020, Josh Hawley and several other senators proposed the "No TikTok on Government Devices Act". The act would prevent federal employees from downloading the app. Hawley had previously called the app "a Chinese-owned social media platform so popular among teens that Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly spooked".
May 5, 2020: Call for Abolition of the WTO
On May 5, 2020, Josh Hawley wrote an op-ed in The New York Times calling for the abolition of the World Trade Organization, arguing it did not serve American interests and "enabled the rise of China."
June 2020: Criticism of Supreme Court's Workplace Discrimination Ruling
In June 2020, after the Supreme Court ruled that federal law prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, Josh Hawley criticized the decision, saying it "represents the end of the conservative legal movement".
July 2020: Hawley sets criteria for Supreme Court nominee support
In July 2020, Josh Hawley stated that to earn his support, a Supreme Court nominee must have publicly asserted that Roe v. Wade was incorrectly decided.
August 10, 2020: China sanctions Hawley
On August 10, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Josh Hawley and 10 other Americans for "behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues".
September 9, 2020: Shortlist for Supreme Court Nomination
On September 9, 2020, Donald Trump announced that Josh Hawley was on his shortlist for nominations to the Supreme Court should a vacancy occur. Hawley declined the offer, saying, "Missourians elected me to fight for them in the Senate".
September 2020: 11 Rape Kit Tests Revealed Known Criminals
In September 2020, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that of the 16 rape kit tests that were consequently uploaded to the national DNA database, 11 revealed the names of known criminals and were referred for possible prosecution.
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.
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 companies and social media, proposing regulation of internet companies. The book also raises valid concerns about the technology industry, but is misleading on the history of antitrust.
2021: Actions on Transgender Rights
In 2021, Josh Hawley co-sponsored a bill to restrict transgender women's participation in sports and signed a letter that objected to Title IX protection of transgender students.
2021: Support for $15 Minimum Wage for Large Businesses
In 2021, Josh Hawley expressed support for a $15 minimum wage for businesses that make over $1 billion a year.
January 27, 2022: Pennsylvania appellate court ruling on election officials
On January 27, 2022, a Pennsylvania appellate court supported Josh Hawley's claim that Pennsylvania election officials had violated the state's constitution; however, this ruling was later overturned by the State Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.
May 2022: Comments on Obergefell v. Hodges
In May 2022, Josh Hawley said he would be "shocked" if Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision ruling same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, were overturned, calling it "settled law". However, he stated his opposition to the decision.
2022: Criticism of Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court Nomination
During Ketanji Brown Jackson's 2022 nomination to the Supreme Court, Josh Hawley criticized her tenure as a judge, saying she had a "pattern of letting child porn offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes".
2022: Opposition to the Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Josh Hawley opposed and voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires states and the federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial marriages if they were legal in the jurisdiction where they were performed. He also reiterated his position that "the issue of marriage" should be left to the states.
2023: Minimum Wage Opposition
In 2023, Hawley had previously opposed the proposed minimum wage increase in Missouri.
2023: Support for United Auto Workers
In 2023, Josh Hawley joined United Auto Workers at a picket line, stating that the workers deserve a raise and that the company can afford to pay it.
2023: Vote Against National Defense Authorization Act for Military Housing Funding
Josh Hawley voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023, that included funding for military housing at Fort Leonard Wood.
June 2024: Vote Against IVF Coverage Measure
In June 2024, Josh Hawley voted against a measure that included a mandate for insurance to cover IVF treatment.
2024: Continued Support for United Auto Workers
In 2024, Josh Hawley joined United Auto Workers at a picket line, reiterating his support from 2023, stating that the workers deserve a raise and that the company can afford to pay it.
2024: Vote Against National Defense Authorization Act
Josh Hawley voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024, citing its lack of expanded compensation for victims of nuclear radiation exposure, despite advocating for funding military housing at Fort Leonard Wood.
January 2025: Proposed Legislation to Criminalize Use of Chinese AI Models
In January 2025, Josh Hawley proposed legislation to criminalize the use of Chinese-developed AI models like DeepSeek, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine. The bill also prohibits academic collaborations with AI researchers in China and obstructs transparency requirements.
July 2025: Vote in Favor of Bill to Prevent Insider Trading
In July 2025, Josh Hawley was the only Republican to vote in favor of a bill to prevent insider trading by members of Congress.
October 2025: Statement on SNAP
In October 2025, Josh Hawley described Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as an "essential" "lifeline" "not an optional extra" "one of our most vital forms of aid" and wrote "nobody in America, this richest of nations, should go to bed hungry, and certainly no child".
2025: Call for Bipartisan Cooperation to End Government Shutdown and Fund Food Assistance
During the 28th day of a government shutdown in fall 2025, Josh Hawley penned an op-ed in The New York Times titled "No American Should Go to Bed Hungry," calling for bipartisan cooperation to end the shutdown and/or to ensure food assistance would not go unfunded.
2025: Co-sponsorship of $15 Minimum Wage Bill
In 2025, Josh Hawley co-sponsored a bill with Peter Welch to make the minimum wage $15 an hour and indexed to inflation for all businesses. He also supported a tax credit for workers making less than $16.50 an hour.
2025: Criticism of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act
In 2025, Josh Hawley criticized President Trump's proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act for cutting Medicaid coverage for working class families, calling it "both morally wrong and politically suicidal".
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