Senate candidates face off in debate ahead of Election Day

By Leah Rainwater

Missouri’s U.S. Senate candidates met in a formal debate in St. Louis on Thursday night.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) is up for re-election and has held a seat in the U.S. Senate since 2019.

Hawley’s opponent, Lucas Kunce is the Democratic challenger and is now taking a shot in politics after serving about 17 years in the military, with 13 of those years being active duty.

Hawley and Kunce previously saw each other on a debate stage in Springfield, Mo. at the end of September.

They were both joined by Nathan Kline, the Green party candidate and Jared Young, who petitioned to be on the ballot.

Only Hawley and Kunce participated in the debate on Thursday night.

One a few big topics of conversation where the usage of fossil fuels, Missouri’s abortion rights and language on Amendment 3, gun violence, social security sustainability and more.

Both candidates also answered questions regarding recent allegations and happenings.

Kunce responding to an incident at a shooting range in Holt, Mo.

”There was an NRA Certified training counselor. They wanted to do this range. I went up there, we followed the guy’s directions. We did what he said,” said Kunce. “And unfortunately, a reporter was hurt by a piece of shrapnel. It was a minor injury. You know, I’m glad Ryan was okay. We bandaged him up and we went on.”

Hawley, answering questions about his usage of private planes, when he had criticized Claire McCaskill in 2018.

“If I remember correctly, my opponent six years ago lied about what she was doing. She said she was in an RV when in fact, she was flying in a private plane,” said Hawley. “I tell you, you may not always agree with me, but I’ll always tell you the truth”

Abortion rights was a questions asked at the forefront of the debate.

”I’m not going to vote for amendment three. And the reason is this be, first of all, I’m pro-life,” said Hawley. “I believe in exceptions for rape or incest and for the life of the mother. I do think that those decisions ought to be made by voters at the state level in most cases. But listen, amendment three goes far beyond what I just said.”

”You get raped, you have to carry that rapist’s child, plain and simple. That’s it. There is no exception. When that law came into effect, Josh Hawley said, and I quote, thank God, and he celebrated it. That is his true position on this thing outside of an election year,” said Kunce.

Moderators asked Hawley about feeling responsible in his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection following the 2020 election.

”You know, what do I feel responsibility for is defending our constitution, which is what I was doing on that day,” said Hawley. “Listen, my view is this one person, one vote.”

Meanwhile, Kunce was asked which presidential candidate he would vote for in the 2024 presidential election.

”I didn’t get into this race to decide who the president was going to be. I want to make sure that when I’m in the U.S. Senate, I can work with any president, from any party, to secure the border, to invest in Missouri and to bring money back home,” said Kunce.

One thing both candidates agreed upon, is motivating people to get out and vote.

Election polls open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and close at 7 p.m. that same day.

News-Press NOW will be providing you updates to national, state-wide and local results on Election Day.