Rep. Vicky Hartzler said Thursday that Sen. Josh Hawley, who has endorsed her Senate campaign, is the most respected Republican in Missouri after former President Donald Trump said he won’t back the GOP congresswoman.
The comment risks fueling a direct conflict between Trump and Hawley in the final three weeks of the primary race, as candidates battle for Republican votes in the lead up to the Aug. 2 primary election.
The primary could offer a test of whether Trump or Hawley, who closely aligned with Trump during his presidency, holds more sway with the state’s voters.
The Republican Senate candidates have also been fighting for more than a year for Trump’s blessing.
Last week, Trump said he won’t endorse Hartzler, a six-term representative from Cass County, because she doesn’t have “what it takes to take on the Radical Left Democrats,” after she called to ask for his endorsement.
Hartzler has responded by emphasizing the support of Hawley, the state’s junior senator, and suggesting that his backing will make up for Trump’s opposition.
“Well, I think Josh Hawley is the most respected Republican in this state and I’m proud to have his endorsement,” Hartzler told reporters after a campaign stop in Pleasant Hill.
The comment came in response to a question about whether Trump’s comments aren’t as influential on the race as they have been described.
Rep. Billy Long, a Republican in the race, has repeatedly said Trump’s endorsement could make or break the race.
Trump has previously praised Long but stopped short of an endorsement.
Former Gov. Eric Greitens and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt have also sought support from Trump and his supporters.
Publicly-available polling consistently shows Greitens, Schmitt and Hartzler in the top three positions in the GOP primary race.
Hartzler said Trump’s comments were “surprising” but that the endorsement that matters comes from Missourians.
She rattled off a list of individuals and organizations that have endorsed her in addition to Hawley.
“Missourians know that I’m a fighter, I’m one of them,” Hartzler said. One of her most prominent endorsers, the Missouri Farm Bureau, restated its support on Monday following Trump’s comments.
At the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Hawley said he is still hoping Hartzler can change Trump’s mind and get his endorsement, even though the former president told his supporters they could forget Hartzler.
“He hasn’t endorsed anyone yet, I don’t know if he will, so I would say the field is still pretty wide open,” Hawley said. “His endorsement means a lot. Will he endorse, I dunno. If he does, when will he do it, I dunno.”
Hawley has been a vocal supporter of Hartzler, campaigning with her and appearing in a TV ad on her behalf.
Hartzler’s campaign opened a rally in Pleasant Hill by playing a video of Hawley praising her. Hawley’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A split between Hawley and Trump over the Senate race could offer a possible preview of the 2024 presidential race.
Trump is widely expected to run again, but Hawley is also seen as a possible candidate.
A Morning Consult poll released last week found that slightly more than half of Republicans say they would vote to nominate Trump again. Hawley received less than 1% support.
(The Star’s Daniel Desrochers contributed reporting)
