[1]Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate

John,

You may have heard that there’s a “Debate About Debates” going on in
Missouri.

But last week, after Josh Hawley’s campaign reserved $1 MILLION in TV ads
to air false attacks against me, the truth behind the fake “debate” he
challenged me to was exposed, as was the total brokenness of our politics.

Please let me explain.

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

First, where things stand…

I believe ALL Missourians should get to hear from us. So because Hawley
immediately accepted invitations for media-moderated and hosted TV debates
in 2018, I thought — despite our disagreements — that Josh and I would at
least agree on this. I was wrong:

[ [link removed] ]on the left: tweets from Josh Hawley in 2018 accepting and asking for
debates with Claire McCaskill. On the right: headlines that say Kunce
quickly agress to accept offer for a statewide debate next week and a
tweet from Lucas saying he's all in for a Fox News debate

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

How’d we get here? Well let me tell you…

In recent weeks, we launched TV ads to introduce me and my message to
voters across Missouri. About the people who supported me growing up, my
service, and my mission in this Senate race. No attacks. Just me. Like
this one:

[ [link removed] ]thumbnail of Lucas' new ad

Then a supporter got polled…

The poll was filled with entirely false and ludicrous attacks against me,
clearly Hawley and his allies testing TV ads to run against me. It was a
sign our message is resonating and that Hawley’s public nervousness was
genuine:

[ [link removed] ]email from Josh Hawley that says: Jane, there's no easy way to say
this, but I'm worried and not sure what to do. Screenshot of Lucas Kunce
headline that reads: Kunce Outraises Hawley. Again. By a Lot.

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

But…

We still thought as an incumbent, Hawley’s first ads would surely be
positive, trying to tout his record. TV debates would likely be our first
chance to show voters a contrast, so as we neared our primary victory last
Tuesday, we prepared to call for debates.

[ [link removed] ]crowd holding signs at primary night event with Lucas on stage

As the race was called…

Hawley gave us a pleasant surprise — debates starting as early as THIS
week! We asked for at least five on TV to start. Then, stations came
together to make Hawley’s state fair idea a real debate that could be
televised to voters statewide.

[ [link removed] ]on the left: Lucas Kunce tweet that says: Better idea - Fox News. First
of five. Let every Missourian see it. On the right: tweet from Lucas
accepting a debate invitation from KSDK 5 News.

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

But Hawley’s idea quickly started to fall apart…

First, Hawley refused to accept the offer from KSDK and KSHB to record and
then broadcast the debate from the fair in Sedalia to make sure
Missourians actually saw the debate.

Then, the Missouri State Fair Commission refused to accommodate Hawley’s
request for a debate on the fairgrounds. And now Hawley’s claiming he’ll
only accept something “sponsored” by a group of his endorsers and donors.

[ [link removed] ]on the left: tweet from Lucas with screenshot that says Missouri Farm
Bureau PAC Endorses Josh Hawley. On the right: Missouri State Fair
Commission leter denying any request for political debates at the Missouri
State Fair.

[ [link removed] ]screengrab of the FEC campaign finance receipts for Josh Hawley.
Source is the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation State and Federal PAC
donations.

A quick reminder…

In 2018, Josh Hawley immediately accepted virtually every media debate
offer he got. Now, he’s suddenly afraid to do any debates that are
actually televised.

So what’s changed?

[ [link removed] ]on the left: tweets from Josh Hawley in 2018 accepting and asking for
debates with Claire McCaskill. On the right: headlines that say Kunce
quickly agress to accept offer for a statewide debate next week and a
tweet from Lucas saying he's all in for a Fox News debate

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

Since 2018…

Josh Hawley spent six years in the U.S. Senate robbing us of our liberties
and tax dollars. Now he’s pledged to launch a “Christian Nationalist”
crusade against our freedoms in 2025. And like classic Hawley, when things
get tough, he’d rather skitter out the back door.

[ [link removed] ]collage of Josh Hawley headlines including anti-abortion arguments,
state taxpayers paid more than $250k for Hawley's open records violations,
and Hawley was an early no-fault divorce skeptic

You might be wondering…

How will Hawley slow our momentum if he won’t even accept an offer for one
real debate? Well, first you should know: Our broken system doesn’t just
let corporate donors buy elections — it also lets candidates get away with
lying.

[ [link removed] ]CBS News article headlined Candidates can lie in political ads,
experts say

[ [link removed] ]FIGHT BACK NOW

Here’s why that matters…

Hawley’s campaign just launched a $1 MILLION TV blitz behind this false
and absurd attack ad. It’s so absurd, it’s obvious they narrowed their lie
to “trucks” because they clearly thought “cars” would be too cartoonish to
believe!

[ [link removed] ]on the left: photo circa 2006 of Lucas in a pick up truck. On the
right: Lucas serving in the Marines with fellow soldiers in front of pick
up truck.

Josh Hawley never wanted a real televised debate. He never wanted to
debate the issues in front of millions of Missourians or to be held
accountable for robbing us. He’s just a wuss — the only thing he wants on
TV is clips of him acting tough and false attack ads against me.

This is our chance to take this Senate seat back for real Missourians and
end Hawley’s crusade against our freedoms — and we can’t let this guy get
away with airing $1 MILLION in false attacks while he skitters away from
debates.

That’s why my campaign set a goal of raising $1 MILLION to fight back
against these attacks and deliver our positive, unifying message to voters
across Missouri.

So what do you say,
John? [ [link removed] ]Will you rush a
donation of any amount to my campaign today so we can stand up, fight
back, and defeat Josh Hawley on November 5th? I’m not taking a cent from
corporate PACs in this race, so I’m counting on help from real people like
you every step of the way.

If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your
contribution instantly:

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I know that together, we can hold Hawley accountable to voters and flip
Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat this November. And I couldn’t be more grateful
for your help.

Now let’s get back to work,

— Lucas


 


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