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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
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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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Paid for by Lucas Kunce for Missouri
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