Missouri Democrat says he’s too focused on his US Senate bid to endorse Kamala Harris

In an interview Monday, the day after Biden said he wouldn’t run and endorsed Harris, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce declined to offer support for the vice president’s bid in an interview on KMOV-TV (Channel 4).

“For me, my focus is just on this race here in Missouri, taking down (U.S. Sen.) Josh Hawley, winning this seat for the working people of Missouri,” Kunce said.

“I know a lot of people are excited right now. And, you know, I think they should be,” Kunce said. “It’s an historic moment.”

“I think a lot of people are excited right now. I am focused on my race. I don’t really feel like it’s my business to tell anybody how to vote in any other races other than my own,” Kunce said.

“But I can tell you what, we’re gonna win this one, and I’m really excited about that,” Kunce said.

Missouri Democrats running for statewide office have a history of distancing themselves from the national Democratic Party in a state former President Donald Trump twice won by double digits.

But to advance to the general election, Kunce first needs to win the Aug. 6 Democratic primary.

One of his opponents in that race is state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, who is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and who has voiced support for Harris.

“I’m not sure why he took that position,” May said Wednesday. “From my perspective, I’ll say this: as a Democratic-filed candidate, I’m gonna support the presumptive Democratic nominee, especially if my president endorsed this Democratic candidate.”

Hawley’s campaign has jumped on Kunce’s non-endorsement, sending out mass text messages to highlight the breaking news.

Connor Lounsbury, a spokesman for Kunce, said in a statement Wednesday that “while Josh Hawley is busy selling his ’Manhood’ book, Lucas is 100% focused on this Senate race.” (Hawley released “Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs” in 2023.)

In the governor’s race, Democrat Crystal Quade said in a statement Monday that “I look forward to sharing the ticket with VP Harris.”

“The stakes of this election could not be higher — for Missouri and our nation. I’m focused on running a race for Governor that focuses on investing in Missourians, restoring abortion rights, protecting access to birth control and IVF, and making Missouri a place that will thrive,” Quade said in a statement.

“I look forward to sharing the ticket with VP Harris who not only shares those values, but, like myself, has been on the front lines fighting for them,” she said.

Businessman Mike Hamra, who is running against Quade in the Democratic primary, also has endorsed Harris in the race.

“She’s somebody that we all should get behind right now,” Hamra told KMOV on Tuesday.