Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) confronted Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce at the Missouri State Fair on Thursday, leading to a back-and-forth in which the two argued about debate preparations.
Hawley, who has been in office since 2019, challenged Kunce to a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate at the Missouri Fairgrounds on Thursday.
The Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, a supporter of Hawley’s campaign, sent letters to Kunce and Hawley on August 9 inviting them to a one-hour, fifteen-minute debate on a flatbed trailer to be held immediately before the governor’s ham breakfast.
Kunce said he would only agree to the debate if Hawley agreed in writing to specific dates for a moderated televised debate.
Kunce accepted the invitation to all five televised debates, while Hawley did not.
“I can’t believe this Kunce guy isn’t going to just take this opportunity to discuss things with the Missouri Farm Bureau,” Hawley said. “I’m doing him a favor.”
However, on the same day that the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation released these letters, the Missouri State Fair Commission issued a statement saying it would not be able to host political debates during the fair.
“The Missouri State Commission believes the State Fair should continue to highlight Missouri’s agricultural industry and the work of our youth exhibitors,” the commission said.
Hawley tweeted a few days before the “scheduled” debate that he planned to debate Kunce one way or another.
“Is Kunce coming to the State Fair or not? I will be there,” Hawley tweeted. “I will be looking for Kunce. And I will be ready to debate.”
The Missouri Farm Bureau even brought the trailer that would serve as a debate stage for Kunce and Hawley.
And even without approval from the State Fair or an endorsement from Kunce, Hawley distributed a flyer at X with details about the debate.
The debate never took place. Instead, Hawley tracked down Kunce at the trade fair.
The video shows Hawley approaching Kunce and asking him, “Are we going to debate today?”
“Dude, you’re really obsessed with this stunt,” Kunce said.
Organized unions also apparently disrupted Hawley’s appearance at the fair on Thursday. The demonstrators said they wanted to see a clash between the candidates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Kunce, a Marine Corps veteran, raised $1 million more than Hawley last quarter. Kunce raised $2.77 million and Hawley $1.78 million, leaving Hawley with $5.76 million in cash and Kunce with $4.23 million.
With an abortion law change coming up for vote in Missouri this November, this could lead to a higher turnout for Kunce, an abortion rights advocate.
