AP: Hawley beats Schaefer for MO Attorney General bid

UPDATE: According to the Associated Press, Josh Hawley has won the Republican nomination for Missouri Attorney General, beating opponent Kurt Schaefer.

We’re just hours away from learning the results of the Republican and Democratic nominees for Missouri Attorney General.

On the Republican side, Josh Hawley and Kurt Schaefer are going head to head for the nomination while Teresa Hensley and Jake Zimmerman are battling it out on the Democratic side.

As of 8:31 p.m. and with seven percent of the votes counted, Hawley had a significant lead over Schaefer. Meanwhile, Hensley has a narrow lead over Zimmerman.

Schaefer is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate and represents the 19th district–a position he has held since 2009. He touts himself as a constitutional conservative, who fights for religious freedoms and 2nd amendment rights. Hawley, meanwhile, is a self-proclaimed “political outsider,” who vows to crack down on immigration and end corruption at the Missouri Capitol.

Hensley is a former prosecutor, who has repeatedly stressed her legal experience. Her opponent, Zimmerman, is an attorney and the Democratic St. Louis County Assessor. He is also a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives.

This marks a fairly contentious primary season between Hawley and Schaefer. In a TV ad, Schaefer accused Hawley of providing legal defense for terrorists. Hawley has denied the accusations.

Developing story…we will continue to update this post as the result come in.