SEDALIA, Missouri (KCTV) – Republican Senator Josh Hawley and Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce faced off Thursday at the Missouri State Fair.

The two candidates for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat met by chance at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast in Sedalia. The breakfast is a “traditional gathering of Missouri elected officials, agricultural leaders and Missouri State Fair supporters,” according to the Missouri State Fair website.

After Kunce won the Democratic nomination last week, the two exchanged jabs and challenged each other to a debate.

Several television and radio networks, including KCTV5’s parent company Gray Media, have offered to host the candidates in a forum.

Kunce has quickly accepted several offers, including one from Gray. Hawley said he is open to several conversations but has not officially committed yet.

Hawley put forward his proposal: a Lincoln-Douglas debate at the Missouri State Fair without official television coverage and without an appointed neutral moderator.

On Thursday, Kunce and Hawley had to answer questions about their ongoing dispute over the scheduling of a debate.

Hawley wanted to continue holding the debate at the Missouri State Fair, while Kunce said it would be moderated and broadcast.

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