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.
