Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is taking a first step toward entering the race for U.S. Senate.
Hawley spokesman Scott Paradise on Wednesday confirmed the Republican will launch an exploratory committee this week for a possible challenge to Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
A statement from Paradise reads:
"As part of Josh’s process to consider becoming a candidate for the United States Senate, this week he is filing paperwork to launch an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. This committee will abide by all applicable FEC contribution and expenditure limits and make quarterly disclosures as required by law. Josh’s state campaign committee has ceased expenditures and the soliciting or accepting of donations while he considers becoming a federal candidate."
Big-name Missouri Republicans and donors coalesced around Hawley as a favored candidate to challenge McCaskill. She's among 10 Senate Democrats running in states won by President Donald Trump.
An exploratory committee will allow Hawley to start raising money for a bid before he announces a final decision.
While he had close to $1 million in his state campaign coffers at the end of June from his 2016 race for attorney general, he can't use that money on a federal race.
McCaskill is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2018 election.
