As a first-term state officeholder making his first run for federal office, Josh Hawley has had to introduce himself to major party donors. And as state attorney general, he’s also confronted complex federal rules restricting the donations of those in the private equity field. | Margaret Stafford/AP Photo Hawley shakes up fundraising team amid GOP concerns

Missouri Senate hopeful Josh Hawley has tapped veteran GOP fundraiser and former senior Trump White House aide Katie Walsh to help lead his finance team, a move that comes amid mounting concern that he’s falling behind Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in the race for cash.

A prized GOP recruit whom Republican leaders wooed aggressively to run for the seat, Hawley quietly brought aboard Walsh several weeks ago, according to multiple people familiar with the move.


Hawley, the state attorney general, announced this week that he raised $1.5 million in the first quarter of the year, less than half of McCaskill’s haul. Through the end of March, he had $2.1 million on hand, less than one-fifth of McCaskill’s $11.5 million total.

The cash shortfall has left senior Republicans worried that Hawley will lack the funds needed to defeat the battle-hardened McCaskill, who has won two terms in the conservative state.

Steven Law, president and CEO of Senate Leadership Fund super PAC, recently sent a memo to major GOP donors in which he described Missouri as “one of our best pick-up opportunities.”

Law, a top political lieutenant of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said the super PAC had initial plans to spend $24.5 million on the contest. But the strategist also had harsh words for the 38-year-old Hawley, writing that he had “failed to capitalize on the first several months of his candidacy, squandering valuable time to fundraise and solidify intraparty support.”

Walsh, a Missouri native and former Republican National Committee finance director, has established herself in Missouri’s political scene. She worked on former Gov. Matt Blunt’s 2004 gubernatorial campaign, in which he defeated McCaskill. She also worked on former Sen. John Ashcroft’s 2000 campaign.

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“As a Missouri native, it’s an honor to join a terrific team to help elect Josh Hawley as the next senator from the great state of Missouri,” Walsh said in a statement. “Josh is an exceptional candidate and it’s exciting to see the momentum he is building as Missourians see they can do much better than out-of-touch liberal Claire McCaskill.”

Hawley aides dispute that his fundraising totals pose a serious obstacle to his campaign. They say the amount he’s brought in to date is similar to what other successful Senate challengers have posted in years past. He has also raised more than any other Republican Senate challenger for the past two quarters.

But as a first-term state officeholder making his first run for federal office, Hawley has had to introduce himself to major party donors. And as state attorney general, he’s also confronted complex federal rules restricting the donations of those in the private equity field.

Still, the national party is racing to fill Hawley’s coffers. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Cory Gardner of Colorado recently hosted a conference call for major givers in which he asked them to donate to Hawley.

Outside groups are pitching in, too. The anti-tax Club for Growth is expected to launch a multimillion-dollar offensive in support of the candidate.

And another super PAC, Missouri Rising Action, recently sent out a memo to donors outlining plans to raise $7 million by September.

“Our goal is to help level the playing field, and take the fight to McCaskill,” the super PAC said.

