SEDALIA, Mo. – One day after securing primary victories in Missouri U.S. Senate race, Josh Hawley and Lucas Kunce have planned a debate at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
The debate is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 15, according to Kunce’s campaign.
Hawley is a Republican incumbent seeking reelection for a Missouri U.S. Senate seat he has held since 2019. Kunce will challenge Hawley as a Democratic candidate for the Senate seat in the November election after his primary victory Tuesday. Hawley also won a primary election Tuesday for Republican nomination of the seat unopposed.
Shortly after the Associated Press called Kunce’s victory, Hawley shared an X post congratulating Kunce on the primary victory and challenging him to a debate. “Next week. MO State Fair, Sedalia. Thursday AM right after the Governor’s Ham Breakfast. No fancy studio or moderators. Just the two of us on a trailer. Lincoln-Douglas style. I’ll bring the trailer. I’ll even let Kunce go first,” said Hawley.
Kunce says he has accepted the invitation to debate. He also calls on Hawley to prepare for a televised debate next week, along with four others. The debates are expected to air on Missouri NBC affiliates, according to Kunce’s campaign.
Kunce, 41, is an attorney from Independence, Missouri, with 13 years of military experience in the Marines.
According to his campaign website, Kunce’s priorities include banning stock ownership for members of Congress, breaking up corporate monopolies and ending foreign ownership of agricultural land.
Hawley, 44, defeated Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill for U.S. Senate in November 2018, previously serving as Missouri Attorney General and through the federal court of appeals.
According to his campaign website, Hawley says he has used his seat to take on big opioid manufacturers and crack down on human trafficking, while he is working to promote religious liberties.
