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Political text messages slander candidates in final days of KC mayor campaign

Posted at 7:51 PM, Jun 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-17 21:11:26-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The campaign trail is coming to an end for Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas.

Both candidates running for Kansas City Mayor have been out door knocking the past couple of days, trying to get last minute votes before Tuesday's election.

The two candidates have taken a few shots at each other, and that continued in the days before the polls are set to open.

Some people across the city got a text message from a number with an 816 area code.

Attached to that text was a picture of an ad.

"It's unfortunate that there had to be that sort of spam, negative texting that was happening," mayoral candidate Jolie Justus said.

She said she did not receive the text.

"My wife did," Justus said. "She forwarded me to me and I don't understand what this is. She explained how she got a spam text and then moments later my friends started to text it to me as well."

Justus said she is just focused on her campaign, not the texts.

"You know I can't speculate on where any of these come from. All I am doing is running my own race and I am proud of the race I am running," she said.

Quinton Lucas spoke up and said his team did not send the message

"I completely condemn negative attacks. Those that have come at me, some that have come at Jolie lately, and I have been disappointed by the negative tenor," he said.

His campaign manager shared another text that was sent to voters.

"I guess sometimes in politics you make a vote or you make a choice that gets people that want to destroy you. I think that's unfortunate and I think it's ridiculous and I don't think it's what Kansas City wants," Lucas said.

Both candidates agreed that no matter what is being said, people will vote on who they think will make the city a better place.

"Trying to get everyone to get out and vote. That's the big next step," Lucas said.

Both are looking forward to election day.

"I'm confident that our message is being heard and look forward to the results tomorrow," Justus said.

Voting begins at 6 a.m.

INVESTIGATION: Kansas City mayor's race text messages raise money questions