Report Reveals Sen. Josh Hawley’s Rare Trips Home, Sparking Criticism from Opponent

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is facing renewed scrutiny from his opponent, Lucas Kunce, following a report that reveals the senator only travels back to Missouri an average of six times per year. The report, published by St. Louis Magazine, examines public filings from elected officials’ offices and sheds light on how taxpayer dollars are being spent on travel.

Kunce quickly seized on the findings, using the data to argue that Hawley was out of touch with his constituents. “Now we know: Josh Hawley is only in Missouri six times a year,” Kunce posted on X (formerly Twitter). According to the report, Hawley has flown from Washington, D.C., to Missouri just 33 times in his six years in office, which averages to about six trips annually.

The report also highlighted a pattern in Hawley’s travel, noting that nearly half of the trips he billed to taxpayers coincided with major holidays. “And almost half of the time when Hawley billed taxpayers for his flights to Missouri, they tended to be around the holidays of Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, or Christmas and New Year’s,” the article stated. The data shows that Hawley used taxpayer funds to fly home for four out of five Christmases since taking office, typically returning between December 17 and 23 and flying back to Washington in early January.

Similarly, the report found that Hawley flew back to Missouri only four out of five times for Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Easter between 2019 and 2023. While members of Congress are allotted taxpayer-funded travel for official purposes, including trips back to their home states, Hawley has used this privilege sparingly.

One notable exception was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Hawley flew home for Easter and stayed in Missouri for an entire month, from April 1 to May 1. His longest recorded stay in the state during his tenure.

In response to the criticism, Hawley’s campaign claimed that he frequently returns to Missouri but chooses not to charge taxpayers for many of his trips, opting instead to cover the expenses through his campaign funds. However, the Missouri Independent reported that Hawley has been using private jet travel on his campaign, raising questions about his use of campaign resources for personal travel.

Reporters sought to verify the number of flights through campaign spending records, but the details are unclear, as the records do not specify whether the flights were for Hawley or his staff, nor do they always include the destinations.

Adding to the controversy, the report noted that Hawley billed taxpayers $4,600 for non-Missouri-related travel. This is particularly contentious given Hawley’s history with his residency. When he first ran for Senate, he claimed his parents’ home as his residence before later being added to the deed. He also registered to vote at his sister’s house. In November 2023, the Hawleys finally purchased a $284,000 home in Christian County, Missouri.

Kunce has used this information to criticize Hawley’s commitment to his state, accusing him of prioritizing a “luxury lifestyle on the coast” over serving his constituents. “Josh has secured $0 in congressionally directed spending for MO as Senator,” Kunce said, accusing him of running for re-election to maintain his personal lifestyle.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also weighed in, endorsing Kunce and calling Hawley the “worst sitting senator.” As the 2024 election approaches, Hawley’s travel habits are likely to remain a focal point for his critics.