Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema declared on Tuesday her decision to not seek re-election and will be departing from the Senate by the end of this year.
Sinema, a Democrat who was elected in 2018, made the decision to become an independent in 2022.
In her video announcement, Sinema highlighted her moderate perspective, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach. She expressed concern that Americans are increasingly inclined to retreat to their respective partisan camps.
“I have faith in my approach. However, it’s not currently aligned with what the American people desire,” she expressed, acknowledging the situation. “Due to my commitment to promoting civility, understanding, active listening, and collaboration to accomplish goals, I have made the decision to conclude my term in the Senate at the end of this year.”
Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake have both emerged as challengers to Senator Sinema in the 2024 election, putting pressure on her from both sides of the political spectrum. Despite not yet announcing her plans for the upcoming election, Sinema is already facing strong opposition.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Gallego expressed gratitude towards Sinema for her years of service in representing Arizona. However, he swiftly shifted his focus to Lake, a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and someone who denies the outcome of the election. Lake had previously run for governor in 2022 but was defeated by Democrat Katie Hobbs.
Arizona stands at a critical juncture as we gaze into the future. The preservation of abortion access, addressing the issue of affordable housing, ensuring a reliable water supply, and safeguarding our democracy are all significant matters at stake,” emphasized Gallego. “Hence, people from all political affiliations, be it Democrats, Independents, or Republicans, are uniting to reject Kari Lake and her perilous stances. I extend an open invitation to all Arizonans, including Senator Sinema, to join me in this important endeavor.”
Sinema found herself at a disadvantage in terms of fundraising throughout the previous year as Gallego consistently managed to outpace her. Additionally, she faced tough competition from Lake in her efforts to win over Republican donors. Moreover, polls consistently placed Sinema in third place when considering a potential matchup.
In response to Sinema’s announcement, Lake expressed her belief that although they may not see eye to eye on everything, she is confident that Sinema shares her deep affection for Arizona. Lake further emphasized that the people of Arizona will not be deceived by Gallego and that she will be a representative who advocates for the concerns and interests of all Arizonans.
Kyrsten Sinema, a former U.S. House representative, made her debut in the U.S. Senate race in September 2017. She triumphed over Republican Martha McSally to secure the open seat, as Republican Senator Jeff Flake chose not to seek re-election.
Sinema occasionally posed challenges for the Democratic Party in certain areas of President Joe Biden’s broad agenda, such as drug pricing reform and eliminating the Senate filibuster to establish abortion protections.
She has played a central role in key pieces of compromise legislation during the Biden presidency, such as the infrastructure bill and the bipartisan gun safety bill.
In recent times, she played a crucial role in negotiating a bipartisan initiative aimed at addressing immigration policy and foreign aid. Unfortunately, this endeavor was derailed by congressional Republicans who succumbed to pressure from Trump.
“We truly value her dedication,” expressed Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, as she responded in the moment to Sinema’s announcement from the briefing podium. “Moreover, we have collaborated closely with her on various important matters… This is the initial instance I am learning about this development. However, she has been a valuable ally to us on numerous vital issues that hold significance for the American people.”
Sinema announced on Tuesday that she will be leaving the Senate, expressing her frustration that the concept of “compromise” has become tarnished and frowned upon.
“In 2017, I sounded the alarm, expressing concern that our democracy was at a critical juncture. Government dysfunction and the relentless polarization from both political parties had taken a toll,” she acknowledged. She made a commitment to take action and address this issue head-on. “I pledged to work diligently towards finding common ground and making necessary compromises in order to bring about real, tangible improvements that would enhance the safety, strength, and prosperity of our nation.”
She went on to say, “These solutions are deemed unsuccessful either because they are excessive or insufficient. It’s a matter of extremes, where the focus is on outdoing the competition rather than achieving the desired outcome.”
