Why John Danforth Is Breaking with Modern Gop Lines and Calling Clergy 'Prophetic'
By Alexander Ross
Danforth's willingness to cross party lines carries high personal and political costs. No episode proved more agonizing than his public break with Senator Josh Hawley. Danforth had served as Hawley’s primary mentor, bankrolling his early political ascent and introducing the young constitutional lawyer to major donors across the Midwest.
That relationship fractured following the events of January 6, 2021. Hawley led congressional objections to certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Danforth did not hedge his reaction. He stated plainly to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that mentoring Hawley was "the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life."
In 2022, Danforth spent over $5 million through a super PAC to back independent candidate John Wood against Republican nominee Eric Schmitt in Missouri’s U.S. Senate race. While the independent bid failed to secure the seat, the intervention demonstrated Danforth’s refusal to surrender to party orthodoxies that he viewed as unconstitutional. His position alienated grassroots party organizers who prize unconditional party loyalty above institutional norms.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
