Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley crashed Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce's appearance Thursday at the Missouri State Fair, where he demanded a debate.
Video shows Hawley fighting his way through the crowds to track down Kunce, whom he found at the governor's ham breakfast, seconds in The Kansas City Star.
“Let's go find Lucas Kunce. Let's go find him, come on. Where has he been?” Hawley said as he entered the event. “I haven't seen him, have you? He hasn't come out of the basement for two weeks. Let's go get him.”
Kunce stepped forward and shook Hawley's hand as soon as the Missouri senator found him and asked to debate.
“Lucas Kunce! Shall we debate today?” Hawley asked.
“How you doing man?” Kunce said.
“Are we going to debate today?” Hawley asked again.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” Kunce said.
“Don't you know? I read your crappy letter to the Farm Bureau. Are you going to report the Farm Bureau?” Hawley shot back.
“Dude, you're really obsessed with this stuff. You're really obsessed with this stuff,” Kunce replied.
Kunce has been in hiding for two weeks; I finally found it today. And he STILL won't argue. But I'll be there pic.twitter.com/aRjKIByq5b
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 15, 2024
Another man approached Hawley and tried to stop the confrontation, the video shows. Despite this, Hawley continued to press Kunce about the debate, asking the man, who he said was “with” Kunce, if he would bring the Democratic nominee to participate in a debate with him. (RELATED: Daughter of late Democratic representative announces run for Congress)
“Let's do it! are you ready We have it everywhere. We're ready to go,” Hawley told Kunce. “Are you just a no? Come on, man.”
Well, Kunce refused to debate, but I found him! pic.twitter.com/ARiL57BaVx
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 15, 2024
Hawley initially challenged Kunce to a debate at the Missouri State Fair after the Democrat won his Aug. 6 primary. Although Kunce did not commit to Hawley's proposal, he accepted invitations to televised debates on KSDK and KSHB, The Kansas City Star reported. .
The video reposted by Kunce shows a dozen State Fair attendees chanting “television debates.” Hawley spoke at the event.
“TV DEBATE! TV DEBATE! TV DEBATE!” — Union workers show up to demand fully televised reals #Moses debates, for everyone to see, because that's what Missouri voters deserve!@LucasKunceMO he has accepted them all. @HawleyMO has not accepted any. https://t.co/Y8Yg686JOs
— Caleb Cavarretta (@CalebCavarretta) August 15, 2024
The Missouri State Fair Commission issued a statement Friday to try to prevent a debate from happening.
August 9, 2024
Missouri State Fair CommissionLately there have been inquiries about possible political debates at the State Fair.
We cannot accommodate any requests for political debates at the fairgrounds during the duration of the MSF. @HawleyMO he lied pic.twitter.com/YdfhP9HsT1— Jane (@PlaintanJane) August 10, 2024
“There have been recent inquiries about possible political debates at the State Fair. The Missouri State Fair Commission believes the State Fair should continue to highlight the work of the Missouri agricultural industry by our youth exhibitors,” the statement said.
“The Commission has been working hard over the past year to set the agenda for 2024,” the statement continued. “Therefore, we cannot accommodate any requests for political debates at the fairgrounds during the Missouri State Fair.”
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