COLUMBIA, Mo. – Attorney general candidate Josh Hawley announced he had received the endorsement of five state attorneys general Wednesday.
Hawley is running as a “conservative political outsider” and the endorsements continue a trend on out-of-state help, including fundraising, as he tries to beat a more establishment candidate in Sen. Kurt Schaefer for the Republican nomination.
“I’m truly humbled to have earned the endorsement of these five sitting attorneys general from across the country,” Hawley said in a statement. “These attorneys general understand what it takes to stand up for the Constitution and the people of their states.”
Mark Brnovich of Arizona, Adam Laxalt of Nevada, Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia, Ken Paxton of Texas and Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma all released statements endorsing Hawley, through his campaign.
All five attorneys general focused on Hawley’s track record as a constitutional lawyer and several pointed out his work on the Hobby Lobby case.
“Josh Hawley has been a great litigator, especially in the area of fighting federal overreach,” Brnovich said. “He was a member of the team that helped Hobby Lobby prevail at the U.S. Supreme Court in a brilliant defense of religious liberty.”
In a campaign where Hawley’s professional experience has been questioned by Schaefer’s supporters, the attorneys general also touted his career.
“Josh Hawley has the length and breadth of experience, not to mention the legal background, to be a great Attorney General,” said Paxton. “He has a track record of fighting and winning for the Constitution, freedom, and liberty.”
Paxton has been indicted in Texas on two felony fraud charges and a related third-degree felony charge, unrelated to his tenure as attorney general. He also faces a related federal civil charge.
