Arizona Sen. Sinema Leaving Democratic Party, Becoming An Independent

Topline

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema will leave the Democratic Party and register as an independent, according to a video statement Friday, following Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock’s runoff election victory Tuesday giving Democrats a 51-49 Senate majority.

Key Facts

Sinema announced her decision as a “natural extension” of her time in office, noting she has “joined the growing number of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington.”

Sinema is expected to maintain committee assignments through a Democratic majority and will not caucus with Republicans, according to the Associated Press, joining independent Sens. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Angus King (Maine), who both caucus with the Democrats.

The announcement is not expected to affect Senate structure, according to Politico, as Sinema said she will continue to vote the same way while continuing to work alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Crucial Quote

“Most Arizonans believe this is a false choice, and when I ran for the U.S. House and Senate, I promised Arizonans something different,” Sinema wrote in an op-ed for the Arizona Republic. “I pledged to be independent and work with anyone to achieve lasting results.”

Surprising Fact

The Arizona Democratic Party censured Sinema in January after she voted not to change Senate filibuster rules, leading to a failed effort by Democrats to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, an act promoting nationwide minimum standards for early and mail-in voting and Election Day as a holiday.

Key Background

Elected as senator in 2018, Sinema previously served three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 15. She was then elected to the state’s Senate in 2010 before later resigning in an effort to run for Congress. Sinema then served as the U.S. representative from Arizona’s 9th Congressional District between 2013 and 2019. Sinema has identified as more moderate than other Democratic candidates, noting “neither party has demonstrated much tolerance for diversity of thought.” According to an October Gallup poll, 35% of Americans consider their political affiliation to be more independent, compared to Republican (33%) or Democrat (29%).

Further Reading

Sinema Switches To Independent, Shaking Up The Senate (Politico)

Democratic Sen. Sinema Has Registered As An Independent (AP)

Kyrsten Sinema Censured By Arizona Democratic Party Over Her Refusal To Change Filibuster Rules (Forbes)