Lucas Kunce

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. 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.

Lucas Kunce
Personal details
Born
Lucas Tyree Kunce

(1982-10-06) October 6, 1982
Hartsburg, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Independence, Missouri
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

Early life and education

Kunce was born in Hartsburg, Missouri and grew up in Jefferson City.[2] 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.[3] His family faced financial struggles as a result, eventually going bankrupt.[4]

Kunce graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2000 as the valedictorian of his class.[5][6] He went on to attend Yale University on a Pell grant, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical civilization.[5][7] He played for the school track team and ultimate frisbee, and joined the cheerleader team in 2003 as their first male member.[3][6] Kunce graduated from Yale in 2004, and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.[5][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 on March 9, 2021, the day after incumbent Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2022.[18][7] His candidacy has received endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters,[19] Progressive Change Campaign Committee and VoteVets.[20] As of December 31, Kunce has raised $2.48 million, the most of all the candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in Missouri.[21] He claims to not accept corporate campaign donations.[10]

Personal life

Kunce resides in Independence, Missouri.[22] 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. "Lucas Kunce's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  3. Mirkinson, Jack (2006-10-02). "Kunce '04 runs for office in Missouri". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  4. Kuttner, Robert (2021-08-27). "Lucas Kunce Speaks on the Afghanistan Catastrophe". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  5. 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.
  6. Harris, Lee (2022-03-29). "The War Nerd". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  7. 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. "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. Gilsinan, Kathy. "The Populist, Millennial Veteran Who Wants to Turn Missouri Blue". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  18. "Lucas Kunce announces run for vacant Missouri U.S. Senate seat in 2022". WDAF-TV. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  19. Joselow, Maxine (2022-02-02). "Leading climate group endorses six Democrats running for Senate". The Washington Post. Research by Vanessa Montalbano. Retrieved 2022-04-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. 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.
  21. "Kunce raises most funds among Senate hopefuls in Missouri". AP NEWS. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  22. Kuang, Jeanne (2021-11-03). "Missouri Democratic Senate candidates pitch paths to victory with 'persuadable' voters". The Kansas City Star.
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