Josh Hawley Becomes a New U.S. Senator

WASHINGTON. D.C. Former Missouri attorney general turned new United States Senator Josh Hawley joins a divided congress. Legislators are currently trying to find a solution to a partial government shutdown.

After campaigning for more than a year, Josh Hawley took the oath of office surrounded by his family. Becoming a senator is something he never imagined.

 "It is a surreal experience. It's an incredible honor. That's the thing that really strikes me is the chance to represent the state of Missouri, the state where I grew up," says Sen. Hawley.

Hawley didn't relish in the moment for long. He's anxious to get to work on behalf of Missourians. One of the more pressing issues,he says, is securing the border.

"I think that's a huge issue that we talked a lot about during the campaign. We've got to get an immigration system that actually works for the workers of the state of Missouri," says Senator Hawley. 

Right now border security is dominating the focus of politicians in Washington, D.C. Hawley blames the democrats for not reaching an agreement on the wall.

"There has to be a negotiation. They're not willing to come to the table right now. I sure hope that changes because it's time to quit playing politics with the border, it's time to quit playing politics with government shutdowns," says Sen. Hawley. 

Since a wall agreement hasn't been reached, the shutdown continues-something else that Hawley says is the democrats fault.

 "I'm so disappointed that the democrats are not willing to negotiate. I mean they're essentially holding the entire government hostage. I just don't think that's right. The President has said that he's willing to make a deal. In fact, I think he used that very phrase 'let's make a deal,' says Sen. Hawley.

When it comes to making deals, whether it's regarding affordable health care or immigration or increased wages, Hawley says he's willing to be a bipartisan senator.

KOLR10 asked Sen. Hawley if there's any indication on when the shutdown will be over. Hawley seems to think it's all up to the democrats to negotiate a deal.