Hawley tracks down Democratic challenger at Missouri State Fair for debate

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) confronted Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce at the Missouri State Fair on Thursday, leading to a back-and-forth where the pair argued about debate arrangements. 

Hawley, who has been in office since 2019, challenged Kunce to a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate on the Missouri fairgrounds on Thursday. 

Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, a backer of Hawley’s campaign, sent letters on Aug. 9 inviting Kunce and Hawley to an hour and fifteen-minute debate on top of a flatbed trailer that would occur right before the Governor’s Ham Breakfast. 

Kunce said he would agree to the debate only if Hawley agreed in writing to specific dates for a moderated televised debate. 

Kunce has accepted invitations to all five televised debates, and Hawley has not accepted any.

“I cannot believe that this guy Kunce will not just say yes to this debate opportunity with the Missouri Farm Bureau,” Hawley said. “I am doing him a favor.”

However, on the same day the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation released those letters, the Missouri State Fair Commission released a statement saying they would not be able to accommodate a political debate during the fair.

“The Missouri State Commission believes the State Fair should continue highlighting Missouri’s Agriculture industry and the work of our youth exhibitors,” the Commission stated.

Hawley tweeted days before the “scheduled” debate that he plans on debating Kunce one way or another.

“Is Kunce coming to the State Fair or not? I’ll be there,” Hawley tweeted. “I’ll be looking for Kunce. And I’ll be ready to debate.”

Missouri Farm Bureau even brought the trailer that would work as the debate stage for Kunce and Hawley. 

And even without permission from the state fair or a confirmation from Kunce, Hawley circulated a flyer on X giving details about the debate. 

The debate did not happen. Instead, Hawley tracked Kunce down at the fair. 

The video shows Hawley approaching Kunce and asking him, “Are we going to debate today?”

“Dude, you’re really obsessed with this stunt,” Kunce said. 

Organized labor groups appeared to crash a Hawley appearance at the fair on Thursday as well, with protesters saying they want to see a clash between the candidates.

Kunce, a Marine Corps veteran, has outraised Hawley in the last quarter by $1 million dollars. Kunce has raised $2.77 million and Hawley has raised $1.78 million, leaving Hawley with $5.76 million in cash on hand with Kunce having $4.23 million.

With an abortion amendment on Missouri’s ballot this November, this could drive out higher voter turnout for Kunce, an abortion-rights advocate.