ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – With less than a week away from the November 2024 general election, Josh Hawley and Lucas Kunce faced off in a spirited debate Thursday evening at the KTVI/KPLR studios in St. Louis County.

The candidates dove deep into a range of critical issues to make a final, impassioned appeal to voters. The debate covered topics central to the election cycle, including the economy, abortion rights, and gun control, among others.

Here’s a closer look at five memorable moments within the debate that demonstrated where Hawley and Kunce stood on key issues.

Credit card and financial issues

Hawley called high credit card interest rates “outrageous” and expressed support for a cap, saying he’d consider going even lower than his proposed 18% cap. He emphasized that people should be able to keep more of their earnings instead of losing income to excessive fees, dismissing concerns that lower caps would cause credit card companies to restrict access.

Kunce, citing his working-class background and personal struggles, advocated for caps on interest rates for both credit cards and payday loans to protect Americans from what he described as exploitation by predatory leaders. He argued that such practices are enable by “corrupt politicians,” name-dropping Hawley. Kunce added that he believes all lending institutions, not just credit card companies, should face scrutiny to prevent exploitation.

This exchange marked the opening topic of debate. Hawley then pivoted to criticize Kunce’s support for reducing fossil fuel usage, suggesting it would drive up costs elsewhere. Kunce countered by turning the discussion to economic struggles, then criticized Hawley’s reported use of private jets.

“This economy has been hard on all of us. We’ve all struggled. Well, everyone except Josh Hawley,” Kunce said.

In a rebuttal, Hawley returned to his stance on credit card interest, saying he supports protecting people from high rates, but also arguing that Kunce’s broader economic priorities would hurt everyday Americans.

Abortion rights

Hawley stated he would vote against Missouri’s Amendment 3 over reproductive health rights. He said he does not believe in a national abortion ban and would support “reasonable restrictions,” which he described as ones for partial-birth abortions and cases where the fetus is capable of feeling pain. Hawley, while describing himself as pro-life, emphasized that he favors exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother.

Hawley claimed that Amendment 3 would allow minors to undergo sex changes without parental consent. He also claimed that Kunce has supported Amendment 3 for years, including allowing men into women’s locker rooms, a point Kunce disputed directly.

Kunce suggested that Hawley’s position on Amendment 3 was overly extreme, accusing him of supporting a national abortion ban to “override the will of Missouri voters.” Kunce asserted that he would work to codify Roe v. Wade at the federal level, citing his belief in a uniform abortion standard across the country. He called Hawley’s repeated focus on sex-change procedures a “distraction tactic” to keep pushing his agenda. Kunce also challenged Hawley’s stance on other issues affecting women’s rights, accusing him of wanting to roll back protections such as no-fault divorce.

Abortion was the third topic of the debate and discussions became heated quickly, with Kunce accusing Hawley of misusing information to advance his political ambitions, and Hawley contending that Kunce’s stance on abortion rights would weaken protections for women and minors.

Election results & Presidential candidates

Hawley defended his action of objecting certification of 2020 U.S. presidential election results, asserting his loyalty to the Constitution. Asked by moderators if he felt responsibility in violence that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, amid the certification process, Hawley said “What I feel responsible is for defending the constitution, which I did that day.”

Hawley noted that he believes in election integrity, and that he questioned Pennsylvania’s results because of what he called “due process violations.” Hawley said he would certify the election results for the 2024 presidential election, regardless who wins “as long as the constitution is followed.”

Kunce blamed Hawley for inciting the Jan. 6 capital riot and claims that he refuses to take accountability for that. Kunce then pivoted back to abortion: “When he says you will know where he stands and that he doesn’t change his position – fine. Let’s believe him on that on abortion; let’s believe him on that on contraception.”

Kunce, when asked by moderators if he would acknowledge which presidential candidate he would vote for in the presidential election, pivoted and said “I didn’t get into this race to decide who the president was going to be.” He expressed he would work with any future president and remarked that the Senate race between him and Hawley was not about national politics. He pivoted to a similar message when asked if he would support Democratic nominee Kamala Harris becoming the next president rather than offering an endorsement. “I can work with any president from any party to secure the border, to invest in Missouri, and to bring money back home,” he said.

Gun control & Gun violence

Kunce affirmed his support for the Second Amendment, citing his experience with firearms from his time in Boy Scouts and the military. He mentioned that background checks at a gun show he recently attended were annoying to the vendors and pointed out that private sales outside of the event did not have such requirements.

“We should have real checks on all gun sales,” Kunce said. He also expressed the need for an age limit and age-appropriate training for handling weapons and the need for red flag protections.

Hawley prioritized stricter penalties for violent criminals over new gun restrictions, accusing Kunce of favoring measures that could remove weapons from lawabiding citizens. “How you keep people safe is you go after the criminals.” He also suggested cracking down on the illegal gun market. “What I will not support is the soft-on-crime agenda that’s gotten us where we are,” Hawley said.

The main discussion around gun control came near the latter half of the debate. However, Hawley on numerous occasions brought up a recent Kunce campaign event at a shooting range, in which a TV reporter was struck in the arm by a bullet fragment. Hawley made a jab in his opening remarks, saying, “It takes a little bit of courage to share the stage with Lucas Kunce after he shot a reporter last week. I guess he wants to go out with a bang.”

Kunce also addressed this incident after the credit-card cap discussion, first slamming Hawley’s ties to the Jan. 6 violence in retrospect to his shooting range situation.

“The difference between us is that when the reporter was hurt, I went over, used my medical kit, and took care of him. He kept reporting. But when hundreds of people were hurt at his workplace, Josh Hawley did the exact opposite … he ran away as quick as he could,” said Kunce.

Immigration and border security

Hawley said he strongly opposed immigration reform proposals that he claims would lead to “open” borders. He advocated for closing the U.S.-Mexico border entirely, reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” program, and allowing ICE to deport all illegal immigrants in the United States.

Hawley criticized Kunce for supposedly supporting amnesty and voting for policies that he claims would allow thousands of undocumented immigrants to enter the country each day. “I’m not going to support legislation that opens up the border,” Hawley said, citing his belief that Kunce’s stances would represent weakened national security.

Kunce emphasized his experience at the border, noting that he trained the Border Patrol’s tactical team and led police training near the border. He proposed a more pragmatic approach with measures that focus on stopping fentanyl trafficking, reforming catch-and-release policies, and fully equipping Border Patrol with additional resources. He also criticized Hawley’s tough-on-border rhetoric as lacking substance.

Kunce argued that Hawley has consistently voted against funding bills to address these issues, including one that would have provided fentanyl scanners and support for Border Patrol. When asked to clarify if he would support Trump’s plan to deport every illegal immigrant, Kunce said, “I think that what we need to do first is we need to secure the border and then we can see about other things.”