Josh Hawley secured victory in the hard-fought race for a Missouri U.S. Senate seat, defeating Lucas Kunce, according to the Associated Press. This win marks Hawley’s second consecutive six-year term as the Republican incumbent. On the other hand, Kunce, the Democratic challenger, fell short in his third attempt to clinch a Missouri U.S. Senate seat.
The race also saw the participation of third-party candidates Nathan Kline from the Green Party, W.C. Young from the Libertarian Party, and Jared Young from the Better Party. The candidates engaged in their sole live, televised debate for the 2024 campaigns at the KTVI/KPLR studios. They delved deep into their diverging views on contentious topics like abortion rights, immigration, and gun control, all while exchanging personal attacks.
During the debate, Hawley consistently criticized Kunce for allegedly being unclear about his policy stances, while Kunce accused Hawley of neglecting to secure sufficient funding for the state. Hawley initially secured his U.S. Senate seat in 2018 by defeating Democrat incumbent Claire McCaskill with 51.5% of the votes.
As a Senator, Hawley has established himself as a populist, advocating for reforms within big-tech companies, endorsing unions, and pushing for compensation for victims of radioactive contamination in Missouri. He is a vocal supporter of Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and is recognized for challenging the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.
Furthermore, Hawley expressed various viewpoints during the recent televised debate and subsequent interviews. He voiced support for capping credit card interest rates and imposing stricter penalties for violent criminals over implementing new gun restrictions. Additionally, he backed the idea of closing the U.S.-Mexico border entirely, reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” program, and allowing ICE to deport all illegal immigrants in the United States.
Hawley also emphasized his support for Israel and proposed a reduction in aid to Ukraine. He denied allegations of planning to cut Social Security benefits. In a bid to assure voters, Hawley stated, “You may not agree with me on every position that I take, but when I take a position, I’ll be honest with you about it. And I will stick to it.”
Lucas Kunce, a Marine veteran, was running for his first term in a Missouri political office. He positioned himself as a different type of Democrat, expressing a willingness to collaborate with both sides and represent rural Missourians. Kunce’s campaign focused on his advocacy for abortion rights, universal health care, and reforms in U.S. agricultural land ownership.
Hawley’s campaign largely revolved around criticizing Kunce’s positions, particularly on Amendment 3 and amnesty, which he argued would negatively impact working-class voters. Kunce, in turn, frequently accused Hawley of being disconnected from the average Missourian.
Before his Senate tenure, Hawley served as Missouri’s Attorney General from 2017 to 2019. During his time in this role, he pursued significant lawsuits and investigations, notably targeting pharmaceutical companies for their alleged deceptive advertising practices related to the opioid crisis.
Hawley’s probe into Missouri Republican Governor Eric Greitens for misusing charity resources for political purposes also garnered attention. The case concluded with Greitens’ resignation as governor. Prior to his attorney general position, Hawley clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. He is a Yale Law School graduate and was born in Springdale, Arkansas, relocating to Lexington, Missouri later on. Hawley and his wife, Erin, are parents to three children.
