Lucas Kunce in 2024 MO Senate race

On Abortion: Get rid of the filibuster and codify Roe v. Wade

On Corporations: I worked to upend the domination of corporate monopolies

On Crime: Failure to invest in our communities increases crime

On Gun Control: Raise the age limit to purchase a gun from 18 to 21

On Jobs: Corrupt pols attack workers with "Right-to-Work" schemes

On Principles & Values: Never forget the community you signed up to serve

On War & Peace: Negotiated for fewer arms, less chance of conflict

On Principles & Values: Christian nationalism is about control, taking away freedom

"In our history and in our ideals, America has been a Christian nation," Hawley said during his interview with First Alert 4. "I think most Americans believe in God and think religion is important and we should defend those folks."

"Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. So I am," Hawley shared. "And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do."

Lucas Kunce called [Hawley's] speech and Christian nationalism overall about control and said it takes away an individual's freedom. "It is an agenda of controlling everyday people in the doctor's office, in the workplace, in their bedroom and for a freedom-loving state like Missouri, that's bad," Kunce said.

On Tax Reform: Tax cuts for everyone earning less than $400,000

On Tax cuts:
• Hawley supports eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and increasing child tax credits.
• Kunce also wants to expand child tax credits and eliminate taxes on tips. He said he wants to see tax cuts for everyone earning less than $400,000.

Tackling inflation:
• Hawley claimed inflation was a result of relying on foreign fossil fuels and instead called for reinvestment in fossil fuels in the U.S. and Missouri.
• Kunce blamed large corporations for raising prices during the pandemic and keeping prices high for the current inflation. He said he would vote to ban share buybacks.

Tariffs on China:
• Hawley: The incumbent was supportive of tariffs on China.
• Kunce: Strongly supporting tariffs on China, Kunce said all money brought in from the tariffs should be invested to counteract China's innovation and remain competitive.

On Corporations: Trillions on corporate tax cuts and they pay $0

Taxes: Raise or lower taxes on corporations and wealthier individuals?
• Josh Hawley (R): Mostly lower. In 2017, endorsed Trump tax cuts, with the largest corporate cut in US history. Might be open to raising corporate taxes.
• Lucas Kunce (D): Raise for corporations. "34% of large and profitable corporations… paid $0 in federal income taxes in 2018." Congress has been "spending TRILLIONS on corporate tax cuts."

On Crime: We need the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Criminal Justice: How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?
• Josh Hawley (R): Supports hiring more officers and increasing penalties for assaulting officers. Opposes weakening "qualified immunity for cops." Voted for the JUSTICE Act, criminalizing certain police misconduct, but with fewer limits than the George Floyd Act.
• Lucas Kunce (D): "We need the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to become law," a bill that would increase accountability for police misconduct and require improved training. It limits qualified immunity, which gives police officers liability protection in specific circumstances.

On Environment: Corporations destroy our land and poison our people

Environment: Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?
• Josh Hawley (R): Loosen. Opposed EPA's regulation on water pollution. Voted to roll back gov't agencies power to regulate "critical habitats." Introduced a bill to ban "new radical climate regulations."
• Lucas Kunce (D): Tighten. "Corporations like Tyson…. destroy our land and water, and poison our people." Is "proud to be supported by" the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund.

On Government Reform: The 2020 election was fair & honest

Elections: Did Joe Biden win the 2020 Presidential election?
• Josh Hawley (R): Mostly no. Voted against certifying Electoral College results from two states. Cheered on Jan 6 protestors outside the Capitol. Said later "I never said that the goal was to overturn the election. That was never the point."
• Lucas Kunce (D): Yes. "It looked fair and honest and I think it was accurately decided."

On Government Reform: Expand voting access and voter registration

Voting Rules: Make voting harder or easier?
• Josh Hawley (R): Harder. Authored a bill to ban the practice of delivering other voters' mail ballots to election offices. Appealed court decision that struck down parts of Missouri's voter photo ID law.
• Lucas Kunce (D): Easier. Called for passing a bill to expand voting access and voter registration. Called for passing a bill to restore parts of Voting Rights Act stuck down by the Supreme Court.

On Gun Control: Support red flag laws and background checks

Gun Laws: Loosen or tighten gun regulation?
• Josh Hawley (R): Loosen. Opposed a bipartisan gun safety bill with enhanced background checks for minors and support for "red flag" laws.
• Lucas Kunce (D): Tighten. Supports "red flag" laws and expanded background checks, and raising the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. "We need things that keep the weapons out of people who are going to be unsafe."

On Homeland Security: Monopolists control the defense industry

Economy: Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?
• Josh Hawley (R): Mixed. Voted against $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Supports stronger antitrust laws, including a ban on all mergers and acquisitions by companies with a market capitalization of over $100 billion. Supports breaking up Amazon.com and large meatpacking and poultry monopolies.
• Lucas Kunce (D): Increase. Criticizes Wall Street for destroying US's production power. "Monopolists" control the defense industry. Increase the Defense Department's power to regulate contracts. Wants a "historic investment… to rebuild our forgotten towns and cities… and start making stuff in America again."

On Immigration: Fund more border patrol; end catch and release

Immigration: How to handle immigration and the border? Support a path to citizenship for "DACA" participants brought to the US as children?
• Josh Hawley (R): Opposed the 2024 bipartisan border security bill. Supports letting border states deport illegal immigrants and put up barriers. Position on DACA unclear. Opposes "mass amnesty to illegal migrants."
• Lucas Kunce (D): "The solution is simple, it's fund more border patrol." Would "shut down the flow of fentanyl, and end catch and release." Criticizes the 2024 border security bill; would have worked to improve it.

On Technology: Adopt industrial policy to decarbonize transportation sector

The essay, argues that the U.S. could decrease its involvement in the Middle East if the country no longer relied on oil, before going on to talk about global security concerns created by severe weather events attributed to climate change. Hawley's campaign seized on the line "we need to ditch all fossil fuels" and applied it to pickup trucks. Kunce's essay makes no mention of pickup trucks.