Hawley holds off Kunce in Senate race, wins reelection
OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has secured his Senate seat.
The Associated Press called the Missouri Senate race in favor of the incumbent senator, with Hawley defeating Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce by taking 56% of the vote.
Hawley took the stage at his watch party Tuesday night accompanied by his wife and three children.
"Tonight we voted. We voted to save the United States of America," Hawley said in his acceptance speech. "That's what this election has been about from day one. And I don't know how the rest of the country is going to vote. I have to tell you, it's looking pretty good, isn't it? It's looking pretty good."
"But I tell you what Missouri has said tonight is loud and clear," he continued. "Missouri has said that we believe in this country, that God is not done with America yet."
Hawley hosted a watch party at The Workshop in Ozark on Tuesday evening. On Tuesday morning, Hawley was voting and visiting with volunteers, according to the campaign's communications director Abigail Jackson.
Hawley said after his acceptance speech that his top priorities are closing the border and stopping the flow of drugs into the state.
Hawley also says he wants to bring jobs back into the country and increase work rate wages.
He says his top legislative priority would be getting compensation for those affected by radiation in the state.
"It is vital, That is probably my number one legislative priority, and I will not rest until it's done," Said Hawley.
Hawley has spent one term in the U.S. Senate. Before that, he served as the state's attorney general from 2017-19.
"It's a privilege to work for all Missourians and if you voted for me or not, the great news is, is that you're still my boss," Hawley said.
Hawley told ABC 17 News in October that he wants stricter regulation at the border, to reopen American energy production, take back jobs from China and to protect Missouri farmland.
When it comes to abortion, Hawley is anti-abortion and says he does not support a federal abortion ban. He does however believe in a federal limit on when the baby is pain-capable and supports abortion exceptions like rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.
"I voted against amendment three, and so.. And I urged my fellow Missourians to do the same," Hawley said.
Hawley said he also believes Amendment 3 would allow transgender surgeries on minors, which has been debunked by legal experts.
Hawley believes immigration and housing go hand in hand. He says because of the border being open, more people are coming into the country and putting pressure on the American housing stock and driving up housing costs.
