2024 Missouri US Senate Voters Guide
Josh Hawley (R) vs Lucas Kunce (D)
The Candidates
Legal. Will “enshrine reproductive freedom and abortion rights into law.” “Missourians want freedom and the ability to control their own lives.” Supports the ballot measure to codify abortion rights into Missouri’s constitution.
No. Says the Biden administration is “sacrificing our energy security for a radical climate-change agenda.” Authored a bill to construct oil and gas pipelines, end climate rules and fracking regulations, and block funds for the Paris Climate Agreement.
Yes. “Putting America first in renewable energy production” would make the US stronger. Would redirect federal subsidies on oil and gas production to decarbonizing instead. “We must… fully decarbonize our energy and transportation sectors” and “ditch all fossil fuels.”
Supports hiring more officers and increasing penalties for assaulting officers. Opposes weakening “qualified immunity for cops.” Voted for the JUSTICE Act, criminalizing certain police misconduct, but with fewer limits than the George Floyd Act.
Mixed. Voted against $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Supports stronger antitrust laws, including a ban on all mergers and acquisitions by companies with a market capitalization of over $100 billion. Supports breaking up Amazon.com and large meatpacking and poultry monopolies.
Increase. Criticizes Wall Street for destroying US’s production power. “Monopolists” control the defense industry. Increase the Defense Department’s power to regulate contracts. Wants a “historic investment… to rebuild our forgotten towns and cities… and start making stuff in America again.”
Yes. “Education has taken a back seat to radical politics.” Proposed a bill allowing parental review of curriculum. Would require that students read our “founding documents” and would cut federal funding to schools teaching that they are based on racism.
Unclear. Opposes “phony culture wars” that “distract and divide our families.” “Parents should have a say in their kids’ education.” Opposed “billionaires and the consultant class” inserting themselves into schools.
Mostly no. Voted against certifying Electoral College results from two states. Cheered on Jan 6 protestors outside the Capitol. Said later “I never said that the goal was to overturn the election. That was never the point.”
Yes. “It looked fair and honest and I think it was accurately decided.”
Loosen. Opposed EPA’s regulation on water pollution. Voted to roll back a rule giving gov’t agencies power to regulate “critical habitats.” Introduced a bill to ban “new radical climate regulations that reduce our energy security.”
Loosen. “Will oppose all attempts to undermine the Second Amendment’s protections.” Opposed a bipartisan gun safety bill with enhanced background checks for minors and support for “red flag” laws.
Mixed. Joined a lawsuit to end Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Opposed a 2022 bill which included provisions capping insulin at $35 a month and penalizing drug makers for hiking Medicare drug prices. In 2023 introduced bills with similar provisions.
Increase. “When my little sister was born with a heart condition, the medical bills bankrupted us.” Supports universal health care; the Affordable Care Act is “a stopgap” toward that. Sees the federal government supporting insulin production.
“The solution is simple, it’s fund more border patrol.” Would “shut down the flow of fentanyl, and end catch and release.” Criticizes the 2024 border security bill; would have worked to improve it.
Mixed. Opposes the PRO Act, which would protect organizing rights. Criticized Amazon’s treatment of its delivery drivers. Approves of private sector unions, but “public sector unions… [have] held vital government services for people hostage.” Formerly supported right-to-work laws; now opposes.
Expand. “I’ll always be committed to being an advocate and fighter for LGBTQ+ Americans.” Supports marriage equality and gender-affirming care. Supports the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Mostly ban. “I just think that marijuana is still a gateway drug.” Opposes federal legalization and giving marijuana businesses access to banks. Supported medical marijuana research for veterans with chronic pain or PTSD.
Mostly no. Voted against increasing it to $15 over 5 years. In 2018 opposed raising Missouri’s minimum wage to $12 by 2023. Proposed requiring companies with more than $1 billion in revenue to pay $15.
Mostly no. Called President Biden’s student loan forgiveness “a massive giveaway to the wealthy.” Supports eliminating loan origination fees. Require colleges to pay 50% of defaulted federal student loan balance.
Yes. Supported forgiving student loans and increasing money for Pell grants. Would invest in historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions.
Mostly lower. In 2017, endorsed Trump tax cuts, with the largest corporate cut in US history. Might be open to raising corporate taxes.
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