www.lucaskunce.com
To keep control of the US Senate we need a pickup unless Dems completely run the table. IF, and it’s a big IF, we keep Senate seats in Montana, Nevada and Ohio AND we keep the Vice Presidency we STILL need to have at least one pick-up from a Republican incumbent to maintain 51 seats. Republican Josh Hawley is the most vulnerable R Senator up in 2024 with only a 42% approval rating. Hawley is personally unpopular, scoring worse than Ted Cruz in TX and Rick Scott in FL. Two recent public polls show the Missouri race within the margin of error.
Yes, Missouri is a red state. The last time a Democrat won a Senate seat was Claire McCaskill in 2016. In defense of his strict abortion ban position, Akin babbled in public about “legitimate rape” and the race was over. Guess what! Abortion rights, and a total abortion ban are going to be on the ballot again in 2024 in the “Show-Me” state. Republicans have gone to every court in the state to keep it from the voters but keep losing in the courts to postpone losing at the polls. Democrats will be boosted even if the rights measure is on the August primary ballot. If Republicans keep dithering it could be on the ballot in November. There is no way that Missouri voters will be any different than those in Kansas or Ohio in favor of choice. Josh Hawley, author of “Manhood”, is can’t flip-flop away from his extreme position.
Jefferson City native and Marine Vet Lucas Kunce is made for Missouri. Democrats here respond to Kunce’s economic populism and he has impressive experience as an expert in antitrust law and military supply chains with the American Economic Liberties Project. Organized labor is united behind Kunce including unions that sometimes endorse Republicans such as the Firefighters and construction trades. Lucas is also the most successful D fundraiser in decades. He has banked over $2 million a year before the election. That kind of money goes a lot further in Missouri than in Florida or Texas. Popular St. Louis County DA Wesley Bell is going after Rep. Cori Bush instead of the US Senate race.
I’ve followed Kunce closely. I’ve been to his public town meetings in Carrollton, North St. Louis, Columbia, North STL County and Maplewood. Lucas has the time and energy to work rural Missouri hard. He has already been everywhere once and is returning for seconds. Kunce is as progressive as anyone in Missouri but polarization is not his priority. He does not sling insults . In contrast to Hawley, Kunce is more of a hopeful populist than an angry or vengeful one.
Democrats can’t keep writing off Missouri. We keep winning progressive referendums — to expand medicaid, stop “right to work for less” and legalize pot — but losing elections. Gerrymandering accounts for the Republican margins in the legislature but not our poor record statewide. Lucas Kunce, with a little bit of luck and a lot of money can beat Josh Hawley and save the Senate in the process.