Today, on the three-year anniversary of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley running away like a coward from the violent rioters he and Donald Trump incited to participate in an insurrection on the United States Capitol, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“Three years ago, Missourians watched as Josh Hawley encouraged a violent mob to storm the United States Capitol and attack law enforcement in an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election and subvert the will of the American people. We later learned that Hawley did not even have the courage to stand with his insurrectionists, and fled the scene after firing up the crowd with his fist held high in the air. Hawley’s continuous assaults on the foundations of our country drove our democracy to the brink on January 6, 2021, and he only plans to continue.”

“Josh Hawley's now infamous raised fist in support of January 6th rioters, followed by his frightened running out of the Capitol when under attack, is the very definition of hypocrisy and cowardice. He is a national embarrassment to Missouri. Missourians deserve better and we know it. It's no surprise that Hawley is one of the least popular Senators in the country.”

“What used to be the Republican Party of Bush and Reagan has been taken over by MAGA extremists. Power hungry Republicans stood by as MAGA fanatics, like Hawley, with an agenda that is divisive, dysfunctional and dangerous to our very Democracy took control of their party. This dysfunction is rampant in our own state legislature where it is a daily contest among Republicans to see who can be the most extreme in attacking the rights and freedoms of Missourians. And by doing so they are failing to address the needs of everyday people. As long as Hawley and other leaders of the Republican Party continue to work to upend our democracy, we will continue to see extreme candidates emulate their tactics.”

“Former Republican U.S. Senator John Danforth said it plainly the day after the January 6th insurrection in 2021: ‘Supporting Josh and trying so hard to get him elected to the Senate was the worst mistake I ever made in my life,’ Danforth said in a phone interview to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ‘Yesterday was the physical culmination of the long attempt (by Hawley and others) to foment a lack of public confidence in our democratic system. It is very dangerous to America to continue pushing this idea that government doesn’t work and that voting was fraudulent.’”

“Missourians value our democracy and freedoms and want them strengthened, not attacked. Missouri voters want our elected officials to show up to work for them and know how high the stakes are this November. We have an opportunity to #fireJoshHawley this November and Missouri Democrats are working hard to ensure that happens.” 

Media Contact: 

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org