Kyrsten Sinema Leaves Democratic Party, Upends Senate
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
1964: Nobel Peace Prize presented to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Oslo, Norway.
Democrats touted their upcoming majority in the U.S. Senate after they picked up a seat in Georgia this week — but their celebration may have been premature.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced that she’s leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent, citing “extreme voices” driving both parties “toward the fringes.”
“Americans are more united than the national parties would have us believe. We’ve shown that a diverse democracy can still function effectively,” Sinema wrote in an op-ed for The Arizona Republic, the state’s largest newspaper.
“That’s why I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington.”
Axios characterized the move as a “gut punch for Democrats,” coming just three days after they secured a 51-49 Senate majority.
Sinema, 46, was immediately met with criticism from Democrats over her decision to leave the party.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), thought to be Sinema’s potential challenger in 2024, accused her of “once again putting her own interests ahead of getting things done for Arizonans.”
Melanie D’Arrigo, a former New York Democratic congressional candidate, tweeted: “She’s not driven by ideology. “She’s driven by which corporations and lobbyists are giving her the most money — which makes her an elected mercenary, not an elected representative of the people.”
Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko was a bit more blunt, tweeting: “I see Kyrsten Sinema is still great at being the f—ing worst.”
However, Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) applauded Sinema for the move.
“Good to see [Kyrsten Sinema] leaving the Democrat Party. Just this year we’ve had [Tulsi Gabbard] & Senator Sinema — both high-profile Democrats — change parties,” Boebert tweeted. “Hope many more see the light!”
Sources: Axios | The Arizona Republic
3 comments on Kyrsten Sinema Leaves Democratic Party, Upends Senate
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Wow! This is fantastic….the Senator makes a point about “extremism” in both parties. Now I wish more Black American public officials (once they are in office) take this Senator’s attitude and action. Some issues are just flat out NON-PARTISAN….all we really have are different ways to reach the same end. All and all it is still chess we just have different ways to “checkmate” our problems and as it stands now both major parties (and I am speaking as a proud Republican) are dipping their toes a bit too much, here and there, into extremism.
I don’t see, wanting to follow the Constitution, as extremism……….
I THINK SHE IS DOING A DISSERVICE TO ALL THE DEMS THAT VOTED HER IN. SHE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL HER TERM IS OVER, OR RESIGN NOW.