Former Senators Danforth and Bradley Urge Bipartisan Compromise

The longtime colleagues reflected on their time in Washington and offered solutions to fix the country's broken politics.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Former U.S. Senators John C. Danforth, a Republican, and Bill Bradley, a Democrat, spoke at an event hosted by the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, reflecting on their time serving together in Congress and offering ideas to address the current state of American politics, which they both described as "broken." The two emphasized the importance of compromise, empathy, and restoring humanity to the political process.

Why it matters

Danforth and Bradley's bipartisan relationship and call for compromise stand in contrast to the increasingly polarized and divisive nature of modern American politics. Their perspectives provide a potential roadmap for how politicians across the aisle can work together to address the country's challenges.

The details

Danforth and Bradley, who served together on the Senate Finance Committee, said they always maintained mutual respect even when they disagreed. They criticized the current state of politics, with Danforth saying politicians and the media "stoke hate and division" and Bradley emphasizing the need for compromise. Both condemned recent ICE raids and shootings in Minneapolis. Danforth also criticized the reduced power of Congress and the rise of political "personalities" over substance, while Bradley called for campaign finance reform and ending gerrymandering.

  • The event took place on February 25, 2026.
  • Danforth served as a U.S. Senator for Missouri from 1976 to 1995.
  • Bradley served in the U.S. Senate representing New Jersey from 1979 to 1997.

The players

John C. Danforth

A former Republican U.S. Senator from Missouri who served from 1976 to 1995. He is the namesake of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, which hosted the event, and is a member of their National Advisory Board.

Bill Bradley

A former Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey who served from 1979 to 1997. He played college basketball at Princeton and professionally for the New York Knicks, and later ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2000.

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What they’re saying

“We always functioned as people with respect for each other. We didn't agree all the time, but we never lost the respect, and it's with that spirit that I'm happy to be here with you once again.”

— Bill Bradley, Former U.S. Senator (studlife.com)

“We've got to try to empathize with people who are different than we are. We've got to see them as human beings, and we've got to try to reach out to them and understand it, particularly when we don't agree with them.”

— John C. Danforth, Former U.S. Senator (studlife.com)

What’s next

The event organizers plan to continue hosting similar bipartisan discussions to promote compromise and civility in politics.

The takeaway

Danforth and Bradley's willingness to work across the aisle and find common ground, even on issues where they disagreed, provides a model for how politicians can overcome partisan divides and address the country's challenges in a constructive manner.