Lucas Kunce grew up in Cole County, Missouri. Like most Missouri families, his family lived paycheck-to-paycheck. When his sister was born with a heart condition, they went bankrupt, relying on the generosity of their neighbors to make it. Through Pell grants, scholarships, and the kindness of people around town, he made it to college. He then spent 13 years as a Marine officer, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and representing our country in arms control negotiations with Russia. He then worked at a nonprofit that fights back against the corporate monopolies that dominate our economy and our politics.