Josh Hawley is in trouble.
U.S. Senate hopeful Lucas Kunce and his killer thighs are catching up to the unpopular incumbent.
New polling out of Missouri only shows Hawley leading Kunce 46 to 42, which is within the 4.9% margin of error.
That suggests Kunce could be in prime shape to pull off an upset, and send one of the Senate’s biggest bloviators home. Gulp.
How will our young men survive?! Hawley, in case you don’t know, is the paragon of manhood. He’s even written a masculinity manifesto.
But the quick-footed senator may be on the outs.
The new numbers out of Missouri align with Hawley’s approval-disapproval ratings, which were clocked at nearly 50-50 in August (47% of survey respondents said they approved of the job Hawley has been doing on their behalf, compared to 45% who said they disapproved).
In another positive sign, Kunce raised more money than Hawley in Q3, bringing in $1.5 million.
Kunce’s viability is a big boon for Democrats, who are facing a challenging Senate map next year. Joe Manchin’s retirement all but all but ensures Republicans will pick up at least one seat in West Virginia, if not more.
But a couple of Senate races in red states with very unpopular incumbents could be wild cards. Ted Cruz will likely face a tough reelection campaign against Rep. Colin Allred, an ex-NFL linebacker with a strong bipartisan track record.
Allred has reportedly raised $10.9 million since declaring his candidacy in May, according to the Texas Tribune, almost $2 million more than Cruz over the same period.
Kunce, the expected winner of the Democratic primary, is also facing a beleaguered Republican. Smarmy and dislikable, Hawley seems determined to embarrass himself at every Senate hearing.
Just last week, he tried to smear Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as antisemitic, even though his mother was a Holocaust survivor.
Hawley’s line of attack went as well as imagined.
Prior to that, Hawley used a hearing about name-image-likeness issues among college athletes to rant about women’s locker rooms and trans athletes.
Hmm… demonizing a marginalized group. That doesn’t seem very manly!
If you don’t believe us, ask Jon Hamm.
Earlier this year, Kunce released an attack ad narrated by the actor, who’s from the Show-Me State.
“Jon Hamm’s got a message for Missouri,” Kunce tweeted, along with the video. “If you want to be told about ‘Manhood,’ Josh Hawley wrote a book about it. But if you want a Marine veteran fighting for you and everyday Missourians in the U.S. Senate, then join us.”
Kunce, a 13-year Marine vet who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, first rose to gay political prominence in 2022, when he shared a photo of himself running in a pair of short-shorts… sparking an online fury.
We know that thicc thighs save lives. Could muscular thighs… save democracy?
While Kunce lost the 2022 Democratic primary for Missouri’s then-open Senate seat, he announced his campaign against Hawley.
On LGBTQ+ issues, the candidates’ differences couldn’t be more stark.
Unlike Hawley, Kunce supports outlawing conversion therapy at the federal level and has said he would support the Equality Act. He has also vowed to help end violence against trans people and stand up for gender affirming care for trans youth.
Given Missouri’s political landscape, Hawley is still the favorite. But Democrats continue to outperform expectations, as Tuesday’s results showed.
Kunce, and his thighs, are off to the races.
At least Hawley has experience when it comes to scurrying away…
Saskatchewan
Josh was adorable in his College years. Come on Josh… Get it together buddy..
dbmcvey
He’s a fascist and a traitor.
hoosier1969
He looks like a frat boy from the douchiest of frats. He has a face that calls for being slapped.
LumpyPillows
“He looks like a frat boy from the douchiest of frats. He has a face that calls for being slapped.”
That gave me a boner.
Kangol2
Kunce is a very progressive Democrat, a vet who served three tours in the Middle East, an attorney, and a strong supporter of unions. He could be Jesus but he’d still have an uphill battle against that phony Josh Hawley, since Missouri has become an extremely conservative state.
Last year Kunce was vying for the open Senate seat and in the Democratic primary the Anheuser-Busch heiress basically ousted him, then she started sounding like a Repub-lite. Of course the far-right MAGA Republican defeated her handily.
This time Kunce probably won’t have to face off against a Busch heir in the primary, but Hawley, as horrible as he is, still has the upper hand. Perhaps if Missouri can mount an abortion referendum for next fall Kunce might have a chance.
smittoons
Democrat strategy is going to be to get as many abortion referendums on the ballot as they can in 2024. Biden’s poll numbers should be a wake up call to anyone who is complacent about Trump’s or any non-indicted GOP candidate’s chances.
The Democrats have messaging trouble – we should be seeing ads everywhere about benefits brought by the stimulus and infrastructure bills. People need to be convinced the economy is as sound in practice as it is on paper with inflation and interest rates still top of mind. US support for conflict in Israel and Ukraine need to framed better as fatigue sets in. Biden needs to be portrayed as a competent, compassionate and steady hand surrounded by capable people.
Once Obama and the Clintons left the scene, it created a power vacuum. The most prominent figures in the party are Biden, Sanders and Pelosi – all of them in their 80s. The DNC desperately needs to elevate its rising stars after a spate of Dem governors getting elected. Kamala would be lucky to be the next Al Gore, but looks more likely to be the next Dan Quayle or Walter Mondale. That leaves a precarious situation right now as Biden insists on running again.
LumpyPillows
You want to lose in Missouri you run a fringe liberal. Perhaps Kunce can thread the needle, as Biden has, to support liberal ideals without advocating for the fringe dogma that alienates 70% of Americans. The fringe left holds about equal sway as the Trump acolytes. Sad for us 40-50% of Americans stuck between two groups of nuts.
Ronbo
Smittons, I will vote for Lucas – he appears to be an actual progressive. The problem is just that; he is a progressive and the DNC prefers neoliberals like Claire McCaskill who provided the critical vote to allow spying on US citizens. So far, the DNC has refused to fund or support Kunce.
Money buys a lot of people and the billionaire class has a lot of money.
stanpaske
He clocked his numbers when he was elected. Run,…JOSH,…Run. We saw you can.
abfab
He runs like a, well, him!
1967Man
Kunce has as much of a chance at beating Hawley as Deming had of beating Rubio. Queerty repeatedly touted the chance, and Rubio sailed to re-election.
Covid Hermit
This reminds of when Queerty incorrectly predicted the imminent resignation of Matt Gaetz from Congress (I believe that was summer 2022). We know how that one came out (unfortunately).
Brian
There’s a problem when they carry over their gossipy/sassy writing style to topics other than pop culture. One minute, they’re pasting links to Instagram influencers, and the next minute, they’re reporting on legislation, case law, and other more absolute/factual things. If you’re gonna write that broadly, you really need to adjust your mindset.
(I noticed the Gaetz one too. I’ve also seen them make exaggerated predictions about the Trump children going to prison… years ago.)
abfab
Brian and other whiny babies: Take a beginning course in Mass Media.
What is a general interest periodical?
General Interest Magazines which now include BLOGS
Aimed at educated, non-specialized audience. No background knowledge or expertise is assumed about the audience. Articles written by journalists, free-lance writers or staff writers. Often sources not cited.Jan 20, 2023
Ronbo
abfab appears to be a self-centered dick. Wanting accurate information, not gossip, is how we engage in change. The gossip girls need to tone it down.
Fahd
Hawley is a TRAITOR to the United States of America based on his actions on January 6, 2021. He should have been charged, tried, and convicted by now. He should be barred from running for any public office, including Senator from Missouri.
The Democrats need to focus on defeating this traitorous scumbag.
The Democrats have their candidate in Kunce. Now it is a matter of money, organization, and persuasion. Traitors should not be reelected.
CNY1983
if missouri men want “men” like josh hawley so be it. i dont see any difference between “hawley men” and girly men so drop the double standard with your manhood and lets see your balls, if that is possible without a microscope.
abfab
His priest can tell us all what they look like.
Ronbo
Can anyone see how false claims and rumors make one the problem, not the solution? We don’t need to lie to see that Lucas Kuntz is the right choice.
dbmcvey
Hawley is a fascist, a traitor and a coward.
abfab
So too are his voters and 1/2 of Amerikkka.
Along with some of the ”queers” who come to QUEERTY and think it’s cool to barge into a room that really isn’t for them. And spew shit that would get them kicked out of any Gay gathering……………………….save for the now defunct Log Cabin KKKlub.
dbmcvey
Absolutely!
The sad gay conservative trolls on this site all seem to get a little moist over this spineless fool.
abfab
What does he do for his constituents/supporters/community?
Ronbo
Not everyone believes that extremism is the solution. It’s usually the Republicans taking the low road.
Calling my nation “Amerikkka” is not a plan that will succeed. You are simply pushing good people away and attracting extremists like dbmcvey, CNY 1983, and FAHD.
LumpyPillows
Defeating Hawley will be difficult, but if anyone can do it, it will be someone like Lucas Kunce.