Josh Hawley and Lucas Coons faced off in a US Senate debate

ST. LOUIS — Missouri U.S. Senate candidates Josh Hawley and Lucas Coons went head-to-head in a live televised debate Thursday, diving deep into a range of critical issues just five days before the general election.

The event, dubbed “Debate Night in the Missouri Race for U.S. Senate,” marks the only scheduled debate between two candidates in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. The hour-long debate aired live Thursday at 7 p.m. across Missouri on Nexstar stations including KTVI/KPLR-St. Louis, WDAF-Kansas City, KRBK-Springfield and KSN-Joplin and their digital platforms.

The debate agreement came after months of public protests and a personal confrontation between Hawley and Koons at the Missouri State Fair in August. Both campaigns engaged heavily in media advertising, with each accusing the other of misrepresenting their positions on various issues.

Key topics that were addressed included abortion rights, the economy, immigration and the presidential election.

Ahead of the debate, recent polls from Emerson College, The Hill and Nexstar show Hawley leading by 11 points, although the incumbent suggests the race could be closer.

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