Josh Hawley is on the run in Missouri. Marine Vet Lucas Kunce raises $2.25 million in Q 1

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Thursday April 11, 2024 · 5:12 PM PDT

2024/04/11 · 17:12

Independence, MO — In the first quarter of 2024, Lucas Kunce raised over $2.25 million, a record for a Senate challenger in Missouri at this point in the race. It’s his strongest quarter yet, and it brings his grand total this cycle to a whopping $7.6 million raised for his campaign to defeat Josh Hawley, the most unpopular Republican incumbent running for reelection in 2024. It’s the most a Senate challenger has ever raised in Missouri history.

Kunce is supported by grassroots donors from every single county in the state, and he’ll enter Q2 with $3.3 million cash on hand, the biggest war chest a Missouri challenger has ever amassed in a race against a Senate incumbent. Kunce even outpaces Hawley's 2018 race and Jason Kander's 2016 race for cash on hand.

This fundraising news comes on the heels of Josh Hawley moving to the right of Donald Trump on abortion rights. And, as the fight to get abortion on the ballot continues to heat up and make impressive progress, Lucas earned the endorsement of Abortion Action Missouri, a leader in that fight.

Lucas Kunce raises $5.4 million in '23, unites Labor, to send Josh Hawley scampering in '24

howardpark

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Thursday January 18, 2024 · 6:22 PM PST

2024/01/18 · 18:22

Josh is a weenie coward and Missourians know it.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Lucas Kunce raised $1.54 million, bringing his 2023 total to a whopping $5.4 million raised for his campaign to defeat Josh Hawley, the most unpopular Republican incumbent running for reelection in 2024. It’s the largest off-year haul for a U.S. Senate challenger in Missouri history.

Hawley consistently polls even worse than Cancun Cruz and Social Security sunsetter Rick Scott (Morning Consult). Hawley, an Arkansas native and Virginia resident is a spoiled, entitled jerk and Missourians know it. He has very shallow Missouri roots. Hawley’s recent book “Masculinity” has sold poorly and been the subject of jokes in every bar in the state. Hawley doesn’t bring pork to the state. Mitch McConnell hates Josh.

Lucas Kunce, of Independence, is the anti-Hawley and appeals to swing voters. Kunce grew up in Jefferson City in a working class Catholic family, earned his law degree at the University of Missouri and served for 12 years in the US Marine Corps with 2 deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. Josh’es service was confined to CPAC and political wars among the Young Republicans. Kunce is an economic populist and anti-monopolist. Hawley learned his economics from Ayn Rand.

By any standard Kunce is running an impressive campaign. He has united organized labor in Missouri, attracting support from the firefighters and construction trades that sometimes go Republican. And there is the fundraising and lots of it. $5.4 million in 2023 goes a long way in Missouri. Kunce also has strong support in the black community, attracting the endorsement of Kansas City’s Freedom Inc. and St. Louis Civil Rights icon Bill Clay, Sr.

Missouri is a red state, but its not Wyoming or Mississippi. Ohio and Montana are red states and home of two US Senate seats that we MUST win in 2024. Lucas Kunce can do in Missouri what Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester have been doing for years. We can’t expect to hold the Senate if we give Josh Hawley a pass. 2024 will also, probably, bring a pro-choice ballot measure in Missouri. It will be the biggest outpouring of pro-choice voters ever.

Lucas Kunce needs the support of the progressive netroots. Your support of Lucas goes a long way in Missouri, especially compared to Texas, Florida or California. Yes, we can! www.lucaskunce.com

Yes! We Can Beat Josh Hawley in Missouri

howardpark

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Sunday December 03, 2023 · 5:49 PM PST

2023/12/03 · 17:49

YouTube Video

Josh Hawley is the least popular incumbent US Senator. Only 43% of Missourians approve of his scampering sophistry. He excels only in jerkness, even more than overturning elections, manhood and union busting.

Lucas Kunce is one of us, and yes he can beat Josh Hawley. Help us. www.lucaskunce.com

Josh Hawley is the most vulnerable Republican Senator. Lucas Kunce can beat him and save the Senate.

howardpark

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Thursday November 09, 2023 · 7:01 PM PST

2023/11/09 · 19:01

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.

Kos "Democrats Arrayed", Netroots Nation 2023 and the promise of unity

howardpark

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Friday July 14, 2023 · 8:42 PM PDT

2023/07/14 · 20:42

In the dog days of summer 2022 I attended the Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh. I remember being surprised, and pleased when political blogger Markos Moulitsas "Kos" made an optimistic forecast for Democrats in the midterm elections. In brief, he argued that Democrats were becoming "the freedom party" in the wake of the state enforced "morality" of the Dobbs decision. Soon after PA/NJ Republican quack Dr. Oz summed up the party's rallying cry "abortion is a matter between the woman, her doctor and local politicians."

Tonight at Netroots Nation in Chicago, "Kos" mocked Republican disunity and sees Democrats as "arrayed" for the coming general election. I could not agree more. I have never seen Democrats so unified. The "misery index", inflation rate plus unemployment rate, is at its lowest rate since the 1970's, 6.5. Nobody of stature is running against Joe Biden because he is doing a good and sometimes great job. Democrats have a broad progressive consensus. The perennial "Democrats in disarray" story is the day before yesterday's news, ancient. RFK Jr. will get a lot of media attention but he still has no detectable support among actual Democrats, few of whom worship Tucker Carlson or want to hang Pence or Fauci.

Almost 55 years ago to the day Democrats battled in the streets of Chicago over Vietnam, adjacent to the Chicago Hilton site of Netroots Nation 2023. 1968 was the most disunited, disarrayed convention ever. This year, the only mild sign of conflict was among the media jostling for the best camera position for the speeches by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and a wheelchair bound but spirited Rev. Jesse Jackson. The torch is being passed.

A year ago, I felt gloom and doom in my home state of Missouri. Today I'm excited about the new leaders, under 50, who are running for statewide office, especially Marine Vet Lucas Kunce against the unpopular Sen. Josh Hawley. The new generation of leadership is here. Missouri is still off the radar screen of national Democrats who believe that incumbents Sen's Brown & Tester are safe. Anything could happen in West Virginia where GOP Gov. Jim Justice looks strong against mixed-message Joe Manchin.

Since its founding in 2006, a constant mantra at Netroots Nation has been that Democrats need a "50 state strategy." We aren't there yet. It's been a long drive. Change in states such as Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina and the usual battlegrounds will only come from the bottom up.

Poll

51 votes Show Results

Feeling good, bad, too early, too hot?

51 votes Vote Now!

Feeling good, bad, too early, too hot?

I'm feeling good about 2024

36 votes

I'm feeling bad about 2024?

7 votes

It's too hot and the rent is too damm high

8 votes

Markos is RIGHT ON!

howardpark

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Saturday August 20, 2022 · 4:47 PM PDT

2022/08/20 · 16:47

Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, founder of Daily Kos. — 20 years of Daily Kos

At Netroots Nation tonight in Pittsburgh Markos Moulitsas did a fantastic job of framing the 2022 election — the next 70 or so days — and a strategy for success. “We are the Freedom Party.” The Republican ethos of reversing hard won freedoms is THE issue in this election. It’s about Freedom, not Trump or Biden. I don’t have a link but it should be available here or maybe YouTube.

Kos was backed up by a lot of fancy polling and a great new ad campaign aimed at positioning Democrats as the defenders of freedom. The dynamics have shifted, still a stream not a river, as a result of Dobbs. The recent passage of the climate/IRA bill really is a solid accomplishment for our side. Lower gas prices help too.

As a person, I’m tempted to go after the Republicans because they have gone batshit wacko double crazy. It’s true but it’s not a winning message. Since I moved from DC to St. Louis, two years ago, I’ve slowly begun to look at politics from a working class perspective rather than as the ultimate contact sport. As a Missouri Democrat I want to be on the side of Freedom, which encompasses our values of economic and racial justice.

I’ve been involved in politics one way or another since 1970. I haven’t always agreed with Kos or other Netroots leaders about strategy. Up until recently I’ve never, ever seen the Republicans so confident and sure of success. I’m old, but wasn’t around for “Dewey Defeats Truman.” They have been congratulating themselves about the success of their movement ever since the big rumble on January 6, 2021. They have purged anyone who did not drink the pissy Trump kool-aid.

Gerrymandering is all they have left and it is an obstacle for our side in most states. Midterm elections were devastating to the Clinton and Obama administrations. If it’s a referendum on Biden, we will still lose. But the wind is blowing our way and Markos explained it very well here in Pittsburgh.

Do you share my optimism, at least about the midterms?

A Missouri Democrat at Netroots Nation

howardpark

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Thursday August 18, 2022 · 8:39 PM PDT

2022/08/18 · 20:39

A Missouri Democrat at Netroots Nation

Greetings from Pittsburgh and the 16th NN conference. What is Netroots Nation? It's the closest thing that Democrats have to CPAC, the Trumpist/Conservative grassroots convention. NN started as a gathering for progressive bloggers and has evolved into the only major conference for for the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, with an emphasis on fundraising and electoral nuts & bolts.

I'm a little bit downcast this year having been through the Lucas Kunce for US Senate campaign. We ran one of the best grassroots campaigns in the nation, raising over $5 million dollars from mostly small donors throughout the country. The response from the Democratic establishment, led by coal lobbyist Dick Gebhardt, was to recruit beer heiress Trudy Busch who spent over a million a week from her own pocket and won the Dem. primary by just under 5 points. She bought it fair and square. In contrast, Pennsylvania Democrats are fired up and ready to go behind Josh Shapiro for Governor and John Fetterman for US Senate.

It was especially disconcerting during the Kunce campaign to encounter longtime politicians and party "leaders" in Missouri who have zero interest in winning outside their small and diminishing base. For the weary and battered Democrats in Missouri, the political sun rises and sets in Jefferson City. The Kunce campaign was bitterly attacked for the audacity to raise millions beyond the state borders and to run for something without first serving a sentence in the Republican (for life) state legislature.

Last week, I had a great conversation with a young organizer for the Missouri Democratic Party. I spoke to him about Netroots Nation and he was passionate about the grassroots organizing for candidates who may not win this time (Jessica Piper and Randi McCallian come to mind) but who are planting the seeds for long term success. As one of the very, very few Missourians at NN (attendance 4,000) I said I would carry the message that Missouri is winnable and that national organizations should assist our efforts. I will. I believe in a 50 state strategy.

Its hard, however, to make the case for Missouri as opposed to states like Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Folks from those and other states are getting excited about Democratic prospects. One can feel the enthusiasm. It's why I'm here because hope and enthusiasm seem hard to find for this Democrat in the Show Me State.

How LBJ would have handled Joe Manchin

howardpark

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Tuesday June 08, 2021 · 11:14 AM PDT

2021/06/08 · 11:14

LBJ had a knife in his cake and kept his "pecker" in the process

How would the Master of the Senate, Lyndon B. Johnson handle Joe Manchin? Years ago an LBJ aide from the mid-1950's told me how his boss handled a Manchin type. Johnson was the Majority Leader in the Senate. I think the subject was foreign aid and LBJ needed a vote from the reluctant Senator who poured forth all the reasons he had for not siding with the dear Leader.

During a meeting with Sen. X, LBJ told my old friend John Davis then college aged, to fetch a large knife. He brought LBJ a butcher knife in a paper bag. Johnson then stood up and dropped his pants, and underwear and, literally put his penis on a table. He held up the knife and shouted something like "if I don't get your vote you might as well cut off my pecker" and he passed the knife to the Senator in question. Johnson shouted "just cut it off"...that's what you are doing to me." Johnson saved his pecker and won the vote and next time he did not need to pull a stunt like that.

Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer need to meet with Joe in a knife shop to see who still has his pecker.

Meet Lucas Kunce, MO-Sen, Wed. April 28 in St. Louis

howardpark

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Saturday April 24, 2021 · 8:51 AM PDT

2021/04/24 · 08:51

MEET LUCAS KUNCE - Democrat - US SENATE - 2022 - Missouri

You are invited to meet Lucas Kunce, Democratic candidate for the open US Senate seat in Missouri and the worst nightmare ever for Eric Greitens, for a socially distanced indoor/outdoor meet and greet on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at my home, 915 S. Rock Hill Road (at Big Bend) in south Webster Groves. Drop by anytime between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

We are "kitty-corner" from Freddie's Market (which usually has parking). There is no required donation but will we ask for money? You betcha. We understand that many of you have never heard of Lucas so we just want you to hear him out. RSVP's to hpark4@aol.com are encouraged but not required. I'm told our street may be repaved next week so it could be confusing.

I'll let the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOV3Nbefi4c be Lucas'es introduction. An outstanding Marine Corps vet with real national security experience and economic policy expertise is what we need to contrast with the Greitens/Trump/Schmitt clownshow. The Trump party thinks it has this one in the bag. Wrong again, In 2016, popular Roy Blunt won by less than 3% against the, then unknown Jason Kander. This will be a high profile major Senate race in 2022 and nobody named Trump will be on any ballot. CNN has named this race as one of the 10 most likely to flip.

To my friends outside Missouri, I don't think I have ever asked you for money since the Obama campaign in 2008. I'm asking now, as a personal favor. You will never get a bigger bang for the buck then by donating early. This is a winnable race if we get a good start. More experienced politicians are taking a pass on this one. Please donate online at lucaskunce.com/hp This is early seed money, please send us some fertilizer!

Boycott Hawley/Edward D. Jones Financial

howardpark

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Saturday January 09, 2021 · 2:46 PM PST

2021/01/09 · 14:46

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) gestures toward a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college victory Jan. 6, 2021 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Some demonstrators later breached security and stormed the Capitol. (Francis Chung/E&E News and Politico via AP Images) — We need to hold his corporate sponsors accountable too!

OpenSecrets.org publishes a list of top corporate contributors to Sen. John Hawley. The list details companies which made direct PAC payments to Hawley as well as individual contributions (over $200) grouped according to the employer.

Somewhat surprisingly, the list includes everyday consumer items from Diamond Pet Food and Ozark Coca Cola. One company stands out, Edward D. Jones financial, based in St. Louis, which runs thousands of storefront investment offices nationwide. Hawley got money directly from the Edward D. Jones PAC and a lot more from Edward D. Jones executives.

A few years ago, unrelated to politics, I had a very negative experience with the Clayton, MO Edward D. Jones office involving ethical violations by the company and, yes, gossiping about my mother's investments with third parties. The investment advisor, a 24 year old fresh from a small Kansas College, was also misleading about fees. I complained to superiors at the firm, they did nothing. My experience is that Edward D. Johns has very low standards for its advisors and very high fees.

If you do business with Edward D. Jones let your investment advisor know what you think of the firm's support for Josh Hawley and do yourself a favor, is Jones really the right place for your investments??

OPENSECRETS.ORG

Sen. Josh Hawley - Missouri

Fundraising profile for Sen. Josh Hawley - Missouri

The Progressive Champion in MO-1, Rep. Lacy Clay

howardpark

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Monday August 03, 2020 · 1:31 PM PDT

2020/08/03 · 13:31

Lacy Clay, D, MO-02. — Time to unite against Trump instead of divisive internal fights.

St. Louis voters go to the polls Tuesday. It’s a no-brainer for Progressives to support Lacy Clay for re-election. Clay has led on police reform, writing parts of the Democratic bill that Moscow Mitch keeps sitting on. Clay also has never failed during the long struggle to enact what is now known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Clay played a key role in attracting the new HQ for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency to St. Louis’s North Side on the ancient ruins of the notorious Pruitt-Igoe housing project. It’s the most significant economic development the area has seen since World War 2.

Clay is challenged by former Sanders Campaign activist Cori Bush, who also ran against Clay two years ago losing by 20 points. Bush has plenty of energy and I don’t have anything good or bad to say about her. The problem is that she has run a divisive, wasteful campaign. In her TV ads she has blamed Clay for causing the economic decline of St. Louis. That is absurd. Bush also blames Clay for everything from police violence to high unemployment. Clay is supported by Planned Parenthood Action and virtually all of the major area unions.

There is a place for these sort of progressive challengers but St. Louis in 2020 is not the time nor the place for it. Bush has now run for Congress three times (including a long shot Senate bid) , risking becoming the Harold Stassen of the midwest. If she fails again it will be three strikes and in St. Louis that means you are out. 2020 could be a blue wave year with State Auditor Nicole Galloway running neck and neck against maskaphobic Gov. Mike Parson and State Sen Jill Schupp with an even chance to knock out pro-life single issue Republican Ann Wagner in the St. Louis suburbs. The last thing Missouri needs is a nasty internal fight when we need to field a United Team Against Trump. Lacy Clay needs your vote in Missouri.

Jill Schupp kicks off campaign in MO-2, running against ghost Rep. Ann Wagner

howardpark

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Sunday March 08, 2020 · 7:39 PM PDT

2020/03/08 · 19:39

Pro-choice supporters and staff of Planned Parenthood hold a rally outside the Planned Parenthood Reproductive Health Services Center in St. Louis, Missouri, May 31, 2019, the last location in the state performing abortions, after a US Court announced the clinic could continue operating. - A US Court on May 31, 2019 blocked Missouri from closing the clinic. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) — Jill Schupp will defend woman's rights

This afternoon, State Sen. Jill Schupp announced her candidacy for the House of Representatives before a crowd of 500+ in suburban St. Louis. The DCCC has named this one of the top 12 House pick-up opportunities in the country. Missouri - 2. Jill is running against Rep. Ann Wagner, one of the junior members of the House GOP leadership. Wagner is something of a ghost in St. Louis County as she avoids constituents for fear of defending the antics of the current President in a district that is trending blue. In 2018, Dems came within 1.5 points of flipping it. Jill needs money! jillschupp.com

Schupp’s opponent, Rep. Ann Wagner began her political career as an anti-choice activist and is a favorite of Donald Trump, former Rep. Todd Aiken and the late Phyllis Schafly. Lately, Wagner has tried to soften her image by championing bi-partisan issues like being against sex trafficking and re-naming a bridge for Cardinal great Stan Musial. Wagner hopes to re-invent herself as a sort of midwestern version of Maine’s Susan Collins.

Schupp has been a school board member, State Rep and State Senator. She is pro-choice, in a district that has been at war over the issue for almost 50 years. Schupp also supports common sense gun safety laws and a large cheering section from Moms Demand Action was at the kickoff.

This will be an interesting race. By the way, the views above are my own. I plan to volunteer for Jill but I don’t work for her campaign.

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