Lucas Kunce

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Lucas Kunce
Personal details
Born
Lucas Tyree Kunce

(1982-10-06) October 6, 1982 (age 39)
Hartsburg, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Missouri (JD)
Columbia University (LLM)
WebsiteCampaign website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service2007–2020 (active)
2020–present (reserve)
UnitUnited States Marine Forces Special Operations Command
United States Marine Corps Reserve
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan

Lucas Tyree Kunce (pronounced /kuːnse/)[1] (born October 6, 1982) is an American attorney and politician who is the director of national security at the American Economic Liberties Project.[2] On March 9, 2021, he announced his campaign for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Missouri, the day after Senator Roy Blunt announced his retirement.[2]

Early life and education[]

Kunce was born in Hartsburg, Missouri and grew up in Jefferson City.[3] His father worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation, while his mother retired to care for his sister, who had heart problems and underwent multiple open-heart surgeries.[4] His family faced financial struggles as a result, eventually going bankrupt.[5]

Kunce graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2000.[6] He went on to attend Yale University on a Pell grant, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical civilization.[6][7] In 2003, Kunce became the first male cheerleader on the latest incarnation of the Yale team, and played ultimate frisbee as well.[4][clarification needed] Kunce graduated from Yale in 2004, and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.[6][7] He was admitted to the Missouri Bar on September 12, 2007.[8] In 2016, he received a Master of Laws degree from Columbia Law School.[9]

Career[]

2006 Missouri House campaign[]

In 2006, while attending law school at the University of Missouri, Kunce ran for the Missouri State House seat for District 113, but was defeated by the Republican incumbent Mark Bruns, with Kunce earning 44% of the vote.[10][11]

Military service[]

In 2007, Kunce joined the United States Marine Corps and became a lawyer in the Judge Advocate Division. He served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan.[12] After returning to the United States, he served as the International Negotiations Officer on the Joint Staff of the Pentagon, where he represented the U.S. in arms negotiations with Russia and NATO.[13][14] He joined the Council on Foreign Relations in June 2017.[15]

Kunce left active duty in 2020 with the rank of major, joining the American Economic Liberties Project as their director of national security.[16] He continues to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.[17]

2022 U.S. Senate campaign[]

Main article: 2022 United States Senate election in Missouri § Democratic primary

Kunce announced his run for the open U.S. Senate seat after incumbent Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2022.[7] His candidacy has received endorsement from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and VoteVets.[18] As of September 30, Kunce has raised $1,745,045, the highest total for Democratic candidates in the race and second overall.[19] Nearly $840,000 was raised during the third quarter (July to September).[20] He claims to not accept corporate campaign donations.[10]

Personal life[]

Kunce resides in Independence, Missouri.[21] He is a divorced father of two children.[17]

References[]

  1. ^ "Meet Marine Veteran Lucas Kunce, a populist running for U.S. Senate". Lucas Kunce for Senate. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  2. ^ a b "Lucas Kunce announces run for vacant Missouri U.S. Senate seat in 2022". WDAF-TV. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  3. ^ "Lucas Kunce's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  4. ^ a b Mirkinson, Jack (2006-10-02). "Kunce '04 runs for office in Missouri". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  5. ^ Kuttner, Robert (2021-08-27). "Lucas Kunce Speaks on the Afghanistan Catastrophe". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  6. ^ a b c Suntrup, Jack. "U.S. Senate candidate claims D.C. tax credit, didn't vote in Missouri in 2018 or 2020". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  7. ^ a b c Axelrod, Tal (2021-03-09). "Democratic Marine veteran jumps into Missouri Senate race after Blunt retirement". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  8. ^ "Lawyer Directory Detail". mobar.org. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  9. ^ "Class of 2016". Columbia Law School. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  10. ^ a b "Top fundraiser in Missouri Senate race last quarter was Democrat Lucas Kunce". STLPR. 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  11. ^ "2006 Missouri General Election Results" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Marine Veteran Launches Missouri Senate Bid After Roy Blunt Retirement". HuffPost. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  13. ^ "Marine veteran Lucas Kunce launches Missouri Senate bid after Roy Blunt retirement". KMBC. Associated Press. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  14. ^ "Lucas Kunce". American Economic Liberties Project. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  15. ^ "Council on Foreign Relations". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  16. ^ "Missouri Democrat Lucas Kunce announces U.S. Senate campaign", Ozark Radio News website, March 9, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Gilsinan, Kathy. "The Populist, Millennial Veteran Who Wants to Turn Missouri Blue". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  18. ^ Desrochers, Daniel (2021-09-13). "Lucas Kunce's military record got him on TV. Can it make him Missouri's next senator?". McClatchy DC Bureau.
  19. ^ "Missouri Senate 2022 Race". OpenSecrets. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  20. ^ https://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "'Real message': Democrat Lucas Kunce's populist talk gains traction in U.S. Senate race in Missouri". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2021-12-15. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  21. ^ Kuang, Jeanne (2021-11-03). "Missouri Democratic Senate candidates pitch paths to victory with 'persuadable' voters". The Kansas City Star.


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