U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5 in Washington, D.C.
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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5 in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced Tuesday that she will not seek re-election in November.
in one videos posted to X, Formerly known as Twitter, Sinema cited today’s political “anger and division” as one reason for her departure after one term in the Senate. She emphasized the bipartisan efforts she has made to improve infrastructure, boost manufacturing and create jobs, but said in the Senate today, bipartisan efforts “are seen as failure” and “compromise is a dirty word”.
“I believe in my approach, but that’s not what America wants right now.”
Sinema said. “I love Arizona and I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, and working together to get things done, I will leave the Senate at the end of the year.”
Sinema was first elected to Congress in 2019 as a Democratic representative serving Arizona’s 9th District and made history as first openly bisexual person Members of parliament. She was elected to the Senate in 2018.
Her plans for 2024 are the subject of much speculation, as her seat will be key to determining control the Senate. Recent voting shows her in third place in the race behind Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake.
Sinema often found himself at odds with the more progressive wing of his party. She opposed raising taxes on the rich and ending the filibuster to make it easier for Democrats to pass legislation in the Senate. In 2022, she left the Democratic Party and Independently registered.
