In the end, Missouri’s Claire McCaskill proved to be one of 2018’s most vulnerable Senate Democrats. Republican state Attorney General Josh Hawley, a staunch conservative who cast himself in the mold of a Trump loyalist, defeated McCaskill in a tough race for Missouri’s Senate seat. Donald Trump won 56 percent of the vote in Missouri in 2016.
As a moderate Democrat, McCaskill skillfully navigated Missouri’s fiercely independent political landscape for decades. But not even trying to both court Trump voters and bring her Democratic base back into the fold could lead to a win. Her 2018 campaign was also the target of attempted Russian hacking.
Early in the campaign, Hawley was hindered by explosive sexual misconduct allegations against Republican Gov. Eric Greitens. But since Greitens’s resignation, Hawley has distanced himself from the scandal and focused his attacks on his opponent.
Health care was a significant issue in the race, with McCaskill embracing Obamacare’s protections for preexisting conditions while Hawley toed an absurd line: He has joined a lawsuit to overturn the health care law in its entirety while also claiming he supports protections for preexisting conditions.
Republican Josh Hawley defeats Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri Senate race
US Senate candidate and Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley (L) and his wife, Erin, are seen at a rally. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesIn a major blow to Senate Democrats, Sen. Claire McCaskill has lost her reelection race in Missouri to Republican Josh Hawley.
McCaskill, a moderate Democrat and skilled navigator of the state’s politics, was long considered one of the most endangered red-state Democrats up for reelection in a state Donald Trump won resoundingly in 2016. That was never anything new for McCaskill, who had faced tough races in the past.
Read Article >What the final Senate polls say for Democrats’ chances
Beto O’Rourke (D-TX). Chip Somodevilla/GettyThe final polls show Democrats remain underdogs for control of the Senate going into Election Day. They face an extraordinarily difficult map, defending far more seats than the GOP, including many in conservative states.
But many key races remain quite close, and the party has paths remaining to retake the chamber — though they’re difficult ones.
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