Hawley ready to face Kunce in November election

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Less than 24 hours after the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Missouri had been called for Lucas Kunce, his opponent, incumbent Senator Josh Hawley held his first local campaign rally in Smithville.

The two opponents have already been jawing at each other about a potential debate, which started after posts on X from Hawley and then Kunce.

Hawley suggested debating next week at the Missouri State Fair, where there would be no moderators, and the two could field questions from the crowd.

Kunce told FOX4 on Tuesday night, “We want debates that everyone in Missouri can watch. Not on some, not just on some trailer in the middle of the field on a Thursday morning. Let’s do that one but it’s not going to be the only one like we’re going to have.”

Hawley responded on Wednesday evening.

“I just can’t believe it. He’s tap dancing around it, he’s trying to find excuses, I’m giving this guy a golden opportunity here, I mean this is an opportunity to defend his record free and clear. The Missouri State Fair is an institution, right, so allow people who are there to ask us questions, I’ll answer any question. We’ll do a bunch of debates,” he said.

The most recent polls show that Kunce is closing the gap on Hawley’s lead. In a March 8 poll by Remington Research Group, Hawley carried a 14-point lead.

By the time Emerson College polled voters on June 19, the lead had been cut to nine.

A Federal Election Commission report showed Kunce had received more donations than Hawley in the second quarter of 2024.

“I take no money from corporate PACs, no federal lobbyists, no big Pharma executives, because I believe that that’s how you got to run a campaign if you’re going to represent the people you’re supposed to represent,” he said.

Hawley said that those donations are not coming from Missouri voters.

“All of his money comes from outside the state. I don’t know what he’s raised out of Missouri, but it is not much. Money will pour into this state for him from outside of the state… but the seat’s not for sale,” Hawley said.

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