'Ultimate wake-up call': Former Josh Hawley supporter now running against him after Jan. 6

05 January 2024

One of the more infamous images from January 6, 2021 was of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), who greeted supporters of then-President Donald Trump with a raised fist in solidarity just hours before they stormed the US Capitol. Hawley's actions three years ago, along with his refusal to denounce Trump's election lies, has prompted one Missourian to run against Hawley in 2024.

In an op-ed for the Kansas City Star, Jared Young — running as an independent in Missouri's 2024 US Senate race — likened Hawley to former Vice President Aaron Burr's depiction in the musical Hamilton, known for his self-aggrandizing behavior and hypocrisy. Young admitted to voting for then-Attorney General Hawley in the 2018 midterm elections when he unseated Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), but changed his mind after Hawley's actions in response to the deadly January 6 insurrection.

"For most Americans, Jan. 6 was a shocking and disturbing day. It was the first time in any of our lifetimes (and arguably in the history of the country) that a group of citizens had used violence to try to thwart the peaceful transfer of power," Young wrote. "It was a clear sign that something is seriously wrong with our politics. It should have been the ultimate wake-up call for anyone who played even a small role in causing the events of that day."

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Young credited Hawley for attempting to make legal arguments against the certification of Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021 (though he admitted those arguments were "highly questionable"). He also gave him the benefit of the doubt for not knowing that Trump supporters would eventually storm the US Capitol to try and disrupt proceedings. However, he wrote that Hawley's refusal to apologize for his actions that day was the final straw.

"Everyone makes mistakes. And for me, Hawley’s actions would have been largely forgivable if he had said something like this the day after the Capitol riots: 'I condemn in the strongest terms possible the actions of the protesters at the Capitol yesterday, and I deeply regret and apologize for anything I said or did that helped lead to that outcome. That sort of behavior has no place in our democracy.' That is not what we heard from our senator," Young wrote.

"Instead, he doubled down and leaned into his role in the events of that day, believing it would endear him to the Republican primary voters he hopes will one day choose him as their presidential nominee," he added. "Today, you can buy coffee mugs and T-shirts on his website that glorify and celebrate his Jan. 6 role."

In addition to facing opposition from Young, polls show Hawley is in a close contest with likely Democratic nominee Lucas Kunce. Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander said Kunce — a US Marine Corps veteran and friend of labor unions who brought in $4 million in 2023 fundraising — has a real shot at beating Hawley in November, who was polling just two points ahead as of late 2023. Democrats can only afford to lose one US Senate seat in 2024 in order to keep their current majority.

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