ST. LOUIS – Former U.S. Sen. John Danforth announced he’s endorsing independent candidate Jared Young in Missouri’s November Senate race, featuring incumbent Republican Josh Hawley and Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce.
Danforth, a prominent Republican, served as ambassador to the United Nations after representing Missouri in the U.S. Senate from 1976 until 1995.
He’s been a vocal critical of Sen. Josh Hawley, a candidate he once supported.
Danforth believes both major political parties have become too extreme and says Young, who is calling his party “The Better Party,” is someone who appeals to most Missourians.
“Most of the American people and most of the people in our state are not out on the political fringes,” Danforth told FOX 2.
Young spent Wednesday night in downtown St. Louis at the Cardinals game. He invited baseball fans who share opposing political views to sit next to each other. We recently reported on what Young has dubbed the “United Seats of America.”
“If we sit down next to each other and talk it out for a few minutes, we discover all these things that really unite us, and that’s what we’re out to remind people,” Young said.
His campaign released a video about fans with politically opposing views sitting beside each other through a baseball game.
Danforth acknowledged the odds are against a third-party candidate winning a senate seat in Missouri, but believes there are enough moderates in the state to give Young a chance.
“If they’re given a third choice—which is not out there on the fringes—which is right in the heart of where the American people are then I think there’s a real chance,” Danforth said.
