Lucas Kunce
Lucas Tyree Kunce (; born October 6, 1982) is an American attorney and politician who is the director of national security at the American Economic Liberties Project. On March 9, 2021, he announced his campaign for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Missouri, the day after Roy Blunt announced his retirement. He lost the Democratic primary to Trudy Busch Valentine. On January 6, 2023, he announced his campaign to run for Missouri's Class 1 U.S. Senate seat in 2024 against incumbent Josh Hawley. Early life and education Kunce was born in Hartsburg, Missouri and grew up in Jefferson City. 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. His family faced financial struggles as a result, eventually going bankrupt. Kunce graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2000 as the valedictorian of his class. He went on to attend Yale University on a Pell Grant, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical civilization. He played for the school track team and ultimate frisbee, and joined the cheerleader team in 2003 as the first male member in the current incarnation of the