I read your messages because I feel your authenticity and that is rare. I wish you had won and applaud your determination to keep trying. In my state that person is Beto. He keeps giving his time to the people even though the majority of Texans don’t appreciate his sincerity and to your point, the first rally I attended of his, people were driving by and yelling out the window that he didn’t have a real job and his father-in-law was funding him. I wish we could follow the ways of Europe and limit campaign time and funding. Then maybe “normal” people could successfully run. Keep up the good fight and may God bless you.
Beto works harder than any other person I know. He's incredibly dedicated and could make a huge difference in Texas. He is responsible for delivering tens of thousands of votes to the Democratic party through his voter registration drives. He developed a great program through his Powered by People group to get the people he registered to vote. Beto is one hell of a grassroots organizer!
Lucas, I also ran for office in Missouri. I was running for the House of Representatives for my district. I'm not a lawyer but the Democrat recruiter had my name from someone and when he cold called asking me to run for office, I was floored. I am a retired Marine and I am retired from Sprint as well. I am not rich and as a retired, I get by financially. Unfortunately, I was not as lucky as you with your team. I was able to get a treasurer and that was it. I've never run for any office before, had no idea what to do or how and I was running against a local cattle rancher who had the money to beat me like a rug. I have complained bitterly to the Democrat who recruited me that throwing someone like me into a campaign with zero resources is not the way to get anyone elected. Especially in a partisan state like Missouri. Thanks for the look into how you managed.
Kirsten, you are right that it isn't fair to throw you into the ring unsupported like that. Thank you for doing it anyway. I assume you are familiar with Blue Missouri, and their efforts to fund every Democrat running for a state office at least a little? I think it will take efforts like that to get anywhere.
Ellen -- See my response to Kirsten. Check out my Substack! I've got a world-class knowledge base on government operations and I'm pouring it into my Substack to help people who want to run for office!
Kirsten - Check my Substack! I have about 45 years of experience in/around government so I'm pouring it all into my Substack so people like you can run for office, especially state or local ones. I've highlighting public policy issues that could/should be addressed in your campaign and providing a lot of background info on government operations. Plus I'm helping to educate voters by providing detailed "how to vote" information.
It's stories like yours that have inspired me to do this!
I certainly wish that I'd had your help last year! I will indeed check out your post on Substack and if you don't mind, pass it along as a knowledge base for our candidates in the future. No one that I know who was running had access to anything the individual didn't already have or was rich enough to afford. Many, many thanks!
Check the index and see if there's something that I've missed to put in the pipeline.
I'm going to do doing posts on communicating with the electorate plus going all in on issue discussions. Lots on state and local government structure too.
Lucas, As a retired r/r union guy and former Navy vet I ran for Missouri state House in 2018. In a deep red district against a 3 term incumbent. I expected to lose but I believed no district should go unchallenged. I did have some financial help but zero from the state party and the bulk came from me. I had the time to campaign knocking on 3 thousand doors myself without help and many miles on my truck. I only received about 25%. I’m now 74 but would do it again if no one else runs in 2026. So….. everything you touched on is 100% correct. Honestly speaking however… as a Navy vet I enjoy causing WAVES.
Mitch - Check my Substack. I'm pouring into it all sorts of information designed to help people like you run for office, especially state and local. I'd loading it with lots of public policy information so you know what issues you could/should address and the options to address them. Lots of voter education materials too. Giving advice to candidates as well (e.g., on speechwriting). Lots loaded ... lots more in the pipeline!
I became a donor because I bloody well hate brave, brave Sir Hawley. And then I found out I like you, Lucas. BTW, I live in a blue city in a very red state. Houston TX.
Ditto...I live in a red state now, AZ and a blue city, Tucson. Grateful for the blue council, county sups and state rep...Moved from CA after a wildfire a year ago...
Thank you Lucas for your valuable insights. I ran for a house district seat knowing too that I would lose. My district was changed with the last redistricting and therefore much of the area in my district was unfamiliar. I had more name recognition (which does factor in with elections) in the previous district. I’m retired and am not wealthy. I felt that folks didn’t have a choice and I wanted to give them one. I received good training (media, messaging, fundraising, voter file) from the state party along with training and campaign models and tools from the HD committee. The national party also provided training. I far out raised my opponent, had door hangers, newspapers and radio ads. I received financial contributions from both county party/clubs along with union and small individual donors. Having only a part-time student helper really negated the positives I had in the campaign. It is tough losing after so much effort is made. However with the information you and others share following the election, we have an opportunity to either improve/implement what we learn from the experience. I personally will be recruiting someone to run. The work doesn’t stop for us regular people.
Check my Substack! I'm loading it with information helpful to people like you who want to run for office. I'm heavy on the policy side (which is where the parties appear to place no emphasis) and voter education (another area ignored by the parties).
Fellow USAF veteran here. Glad you don't use the prefix "ex"; I much prefer "former." The other just strikes me as a bit of an insult. And final. In my heart I'm still as much a part of the military as I was when I was active-duty. Take care.
I have several USMC friends. NEVER say "Ex" to them! LOL. I served in the sixties, back in the dark ages. Loved it. Would have made it a career had I been admitted to the Academy. My eyesight failed the pilot's vision exam. No waivers at that time. I did not want to fly. Did very well with foreign language and wanted to become an Air Attache.
Wow, Lucas! As someone who ran multiple times, knocked thousands of doors and finally won, then lost the next election, I have great admiration for you. But also for the fact that you're encouraging others to do the same. Maybe the Normal People's Coalition (not Party, please!) is what this country needs. Lucas is right folks. The billionaires have taken over and think they have the right to own everything worth owning.
Another excellent reality check, Lucas. I see that you have the ability of my parents to find the best in life and make the most of the situation. I believe your Boy Scout training has always helped you, and military training was helpful too. Waste not, want not, was their motto and I have lived by it ever since. My father loved his service during WWII, although I'm embarrassed to admit he ran the entertainment at the Officer's Club in Oahu, because they found out he was a professional pianist in bars from the time he was 14. But he really loved the Army discipIine. I do hope your recall has nothing to do with the color orange, but I'm not holding my breath. Remember, those of us who are ordinary people have a great advantage over the wealthy, because we should be able to think and manage to get through lives without a lot of money.
I am from Kansas City (but left to go to college in the fall of 1962); still, I have family there and have never really severed my emotional connection to my home town. For that reason, I subscribe to several voices from Missouri, both you and Jess Piper. You both are encouraging people to run for office and you both have a generally "populist" point of view and have talked about the way the Democratic party does not give resources to candidates in "rural spaces", but I have never heard either of you reference the other. Perhaps I am stepping where I shouldn't step (and I've been involved in enough things that I know good, well-meaning folks can have disagreements that keep them from working together) but I'm curious about this. If you want to talk to me privately, I think you have my e-mail from my subscription.
I read your messages because I feel your authenticity and that is rare. I wish you had won and applaud your determination to keep trying. In my state that person is Beto. He keeps giving his time to the people even though the majority of Texans don’t appreciate his sincerity and to your point, the first rally I attended of his, people were driving by and yelling out the window that he didn’t have a real job and his father-in-law was funding him. I wish we could follow the ways of Europe and limit campaign time and funding. Then maybe “normal” people could successfully run. Keep up the good fight and may God bless you.
Beto works harder than any other person I know. He's incredibly dedicated and could make a huge difference in Texas. He is responsible for delivering tens of thousands of votes to the Democratic party through his voter registration drives. He developed a great program through his Powered by People group to get the people he registered to vote. Beto is one hell of a grassroots organizer!
I'm in Texas too! I endorse everything you say about Beto!!!! World class human!
Lucas, I also ran for office in Missouri. I was running for the House of Representatives for my district. I'm not a lawyer but the Democrat recruiter had my name from someone and when he cold called asking me to run for office, I was floored. I am a retired Marine and I am retired from Sprint as well. I am not rich and as a retired, I get by financially. Unfortunately, I was not as lucky as you with your team. I was able to get a treasurer and that was it. I've never run for any office before, had no idea what to do or how and I was running against a local cattle rancher who had the money to beat me like a rug. I have complained bitterly to the Democrat who recruited me that throwing someone like me into a campaign with zero resources is not the way to get anyone elected. Especially in a partisan state like Missouri. Thanks for the look into how you managed.
Kirsten, you are right that it isn't fair to throw you into the ring unsupported like that. Thank you for doing it anyway. I assume you are familiar with Blue Missouri, and their efforts to fund every Democrat running for a state office at least a little? I think it will take efforts like that to get anywhere.
Ellen -- See my response to Kirsten. Check out my Substack! I've got a world-class knowledge base on government operations and I'm pouring it into my Substack to help people who want to run for office!
Kirsten - Check my Substack! I have about 45 years of experience in/around government so I'm pouring it all into my Substack so people like you can run for office, especially state or local ones. I've highlighting public policy issues that could/should be addressed in your campaign and providing a lot of background info on government operations. Plus I'm helping to educate voters by providing detailed "how to vote" information.
It's stories like yours that have inspired me to do this!
I certainly wish that I'd had your help last year! I will indeed check out your post on Substack and if you don't mind, pass it along as a knowledge base for our candidates in the future. No one that I know who was running had access to anything the individual didn't already have or was rich enough to afford. Many, many thanks!
Absolutely positively share. That's why I'm doing this.
Check the index and see if there's something that I've missed to put in the pipeline.
I'm going to do doing posts on communicating with the electorate plus going all in on issue discussions. Lots on state and local government structure too.
Lucas, As a retired r/r union guy and former Navy vet I ran for Missouri state House in 2018. In a deep red district against a 3 term incumbent. I expected to lose but I believed no district should go unchallenged. I did have some financial help but zero from the state party and the bulk came from me. I had the time to campaign knocking on 3 thousand doors myself without help and many miles on my truck. I only received about 25%. I’m now 74 but would do it again if no one else runs in 2026. So….. everything you touched on is 100% correct. Honestly speaking however… as a Navy vet I enjoy causing WAVES.
With you, Mitch, Lucas. Jess Piper, and Blue Missouri maybe decent people can claw their way into office your state. Good luck.
Tks
Mitch - Check my Substack. I'm pouring into it all sorts of information designed to help people like you run for office, especially state and local. I'd loading it with lots of public policy information so you know what issues you could/should address and the options to address them. Lots of voter education materials too. Giving advice to candidates as well (e.g., on speechwriting). Lots loaded ... lots more in the pipeline!
Tks
Jeff Jackson said the important thing is to be a decent person. Certainly you are that
The two of you are among the rock stars of public service and electoral politics.
Fyi. If I were running for office, I'd hire you as a campaign consultant!
Stay safe. We need your character and talent going forward
I became a donor because I bloody well hate brave, brave Sir Hawley. And then I found out I like you, Lucas. BTW, I live in a blue city in a very red state. Houston TX.
Ditto...I live in a red state now, AZ and a blue city, Tucson. Grateful for the blue council, county sups and state rep...Moved from CA after a wildfire a year ago...
Kathleen - Did you donate to Lucas through Act Blue?
I think I got an email. Which directed me to act blue.
Mr. Kunce, this is yet another of your impressive posts. I will upgrade when I get back from a trip abroad.
Do you plan on running for office again?
Wow. This was very informative. Informative yet sad lol. It really is an uphill battle.
Thank you Lucas
Thank you Lucas for your valuable insights. I ran for a house district seat knowing too that I would lose. My district was changed with the last redistricting and therefore much of the area in my district was unfamiliar. I had more name recognition (which does factor in with elections) in the previous district. I’m retired and am not wealthy. I felt that folks didn’t have a choice and I wanted to give them one. I received good training (media, messaging, fundraising, voter file) from the state party along with training and campaign models and tools from the HD committee. The national party also provided training. I far out raised my opponent, had door hangers, newspapers and radio ads. I received financial contributions from both county party/clubs along with union and small individual donors. Having only a part-time student helper really negated the positives I had in the campaign. It is tough losing after so much effort is made. However with the information you and others share following the election, we have an opportunity to either improve/implement what we learn from the experience. I personally will be recruiting someone to run. The work doesn’t stop for us regular people.
Check my Substack! I'm loading it with information helpful to people like you who want to run for office. I'm heavy on the policy side (which is where the parties appear to place no emphasis) and voter education (another area ignored by the parties).
Thanks. I do read your emails.
For those who want to run for office, I'm building what I intend to be the top resource for people running for state or local office! Check out my Substack! I'm a policy wonk with deep deep knowledge of election administration. I can help .. https://open.substack.com/pub/sharonlawrence/p/elections-breaking-down-the-red-wall-a0b?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=a5esd
I’m grateful for people like you who are willing and able to put themselves out there to make change. Being young and energetic has to help!
Oooo-RAH! Semper Fi! (Former USAF Sergeant)
Fellow USAF veteran here. Glad you don't use the prefix "ex"; I much prefer "former." The other just strikes me as a bit of an insult. And final. In my heart I'm still as much a part of the military as I was when I was active-duty. Take care.
I have several USMC friends. NEVER say "Ex" to them! LOL. I served in the sixties, back in the dark ages. Loved it. Would have made it a career had I been admitted to the Academy. My eyesight failed the pilot's vision exam. No waivers at that time. I did not want to fly. Did very well with foreign language and wanted to become an Air Attache.
Wow, Lucas! As someone who ran multiple times, knocked thousands of doors and finally won, then lost the next election, I have great admiration for you. But also for the fact that you're encouraging others to do the same. Maybe the Normal People's Coalition (not Party, please!) is what this country needs. Lucas is right folks. The billionaires have taken over and think they have the right to own everything worth owning.
Another excellent reality check, Lucas. I see that you have the ability of my parents to find the best in life and make the most of the situation. I believe your Boy Scout training has always helped you, and military training was helpful too. Waste not, want not, was their motto and I have lived by it ever since. My father loved his service during WWII, although I'm embarrassed to admit he ran the entertainment at the Officer's Club in Oahu, because they found out he was a professional pianist in bars from the time he was 14. But he really loved the Army discipIine. I do hope your recall has nothing to do with the color orange, but I'm not holding my breath. Remember, those of us who are ordinary people have a great advantage over the wealthy, because we should be able to think and manage to get through lives without a lot of money.
Gosh I hope so! That is a new angle on it all👍😊
I am from Kansas City (but left to go to college in the fall of 1962); still, I have family there and have never really severed my emotional connection to my home town. For that reason, I subscribe to several voices from Missouri, both you and Jess Piper. You both are encouraging people to run for office and you both have a generally "populist" point of view and have talked about the way the Democratic party does not give resources to candidates in "rural spaces", but I have never heard either of you reference the other. Perhaps I am stepping where I shouldn't step (and I've been involved in enough things that I know good, well-meaning folks can have disagreements that keep them from working together) but I'm curious about this. If you want to talk to me privately, I think you have my e-mail from my subscription.
I'm a Nebraska native and I follow Jess and Lucas!! Missouri has some gems ... too bad the voters there didn't realize it!