Senator Josh Hawley is no stranger to breaking from Republican orthodoxy, but his latest move might be his boldest yet.
On Tuesday, Hawley will introduce the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, a bill that aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour—aligning one of the Senate’s most conservative figures with progressive champions like Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Peter Welch, the latter of whom is co-sponsoring the legislation.
This is no minor symbolic gesture. Hawley’s proposal outlines a step-by-step increase starting in 2026, followed by automatic adjustments to keep pace with inflation. It’s a dramatic departure from traditional Republican talking points, which have long opposed minimum wage hikes citing burdens on businesses.
But Hawley is clearly charting a different course—a populist reorientation of the GOP that seeks to consolidate working-class support across the political spectrum.
California exists. Take a look at it and decide if you really want to mimic its policies. https://t.co/g5Z5FDafd1
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) June 10, 2025
“The federal minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009,” Hawley told CBS News. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages.” That’s a message that echoes strongly in a nation still grappling with an affordability crisis and decades of wage stagnation.
And Hawley isn’t just playing to the populist gallery. Missouri voters already backed a $15 minimum wage at the state level, beginning in 2026, though the state legislature repealed the provision tying it to inflation.
With this federal proposal, Hawley is both honoring his state’s popular will and pushing back against the economic status quo.
His bill fits neatly into his broader Pro-Worker Framework for the 119th Congress, which includes stronger labor protections and union rights. Earlier this year, he even joined forces with Sanders to cap credit card interest rates at 10%.
These moves suggest Hawley is not merely posturing but attempting a strategic ideological realignment—merging conservative cultural values with economic populism.