ST. LOUIS–When Lucas Kunce walked into the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in February to file to run for the U.S. Senate, he did so as one of a group of largely anonymous Democratic candidates to succeed Sen. Roy Blunt. 

But with two weeks left until voters decide the primary on Aug. 2, Kunce has established himself as one of the leading contenders in the race, with fundraising prowess that paces the field and a populist message that has remained consistent. 

During a stop in Old North St. Louis Monday night at the 14th Street Artist Community, Kunce stayed true to his stump speech. He told a crowd of around 100 people about his upbringing in Jefferson City where medical bankruptcy took its toll on his family growing up, forcing them to rely on neighbors and their church to make ends meet. He railed against corporate interests who he says have “stripped communities for parts”, and also called out the political leaders who he says enabled it.

“I’m running because I think we need to fundamentally change who has power in this country. I really, really do….How is it that in America, people who work hard, and put their heads down still have to live paycheck to paycheck or one disaster from bankruptcy. And it’s a national tragedy that that is not just how people live, that is actually how most Missourians and most Americans live, it truly is. It truly is. And our leadership, most of them don’t know that.”

Kunce, a former Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a frequent guest on MSNBC, but has also made appearances on FOX News and other conservative outlets. While he has scored the endorsements of several African-American elected officials in the St. Louis region, including State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, St. Louis County Council members Shalonda Webb and Rita Heard Days and Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones, Kunce is also making a play for out-state Democrats in rural areas of the state who have moved to the Republican column.

He resisted a few questions from the audience that could have resulted in a jab at one of his main opponents, Trudy Busch Valentine. 

On The Issues

• Senate Filibuster: Kunce would abolish the filibuster
• Universal Health Care: “There are ways to get there. I don’t think the ACA (Affordable Care Act) was the solution frankly. I mean maybe it was a stopgap for a while.” 
• Abortion: Kunce would vote to codify Roe v. Wade protections
• Supreme Court reform: Kunce agrees with those who believe Article 3 of the Constitution, which establishes the Court, also gives Congress the ability to limit the court’s jurisdiction. He would vote for campaign finance law that mirrors what led to the Citizens United case, where the court ruled that the government could not limit political spending from corporations, unions and other groups. Under his interpretation, the Supreme Court would not have jurisdiction to overturn. Kunce has not accepted corporate PAC funding and said he would not support a Senate leadership candidate who did, if elected.
• 2020 presidential election: “It looked fair and honest and I think it was accurately decided.”
• Should former President Trump be disqualified from seeking office in 2024 based on Jan. 6 committee findings: “I think they should play it out and there should be real accountability, they need to figure out what exactly happened.”