Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema speaks to local leaders in Safford in an August visit in this file photo. On Friday, Sinema announced she was switching her political affiliation from Democrat to Independent.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema switches political affiliation from Democrat to Independent
By Jon Johnson
The state of Arizona no longer has two Democrat senators, but it has nothing to do with any election or election denials. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has changed her political affiliation from Democrat to Independent.
The move is not surprising given Sinema’s history and desire to be seen as a political independent. She began her career with the Green Party and was first elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives in 2012 and to the Senate in 2018 after beating Republican Martha McSally.
Sinema released an op-ed in the Arizona Republic explaining her decision. In it, she describes how partisan politics has no business in government and why she chose to become independent.
“Everyday Americans are increasingly left behind by national parties’ rigid partisanship, which has hardened in recent years,” Sinema wrote. “Pressures in both parties pull leaders to the edges, allowing the loudest, most extreme voices to determine their respective parties’ priorities and expecting the rest of us to fall in line.”
“Everyday Americans are increasingly left behind by national parties’ rigid partisanship, which has hardened in recent years. Pressures in both parties pull leaders to the edges, allowing the loudest, most extreme voices to determine their respective parties’ priorities and expecting the rest of us to fall in line.”
“Some partisans believe they own this Senate seat. They don’t. This Senate seat doesn’t belong to Democratic or Republican bosses in Washington. It doesn’t belong to one party or the other, and it doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to Arizona, which is far too special a place to be defined by extreme partisans and ideologues.
“It’s an honor to represent the state I love so much in the U.S. Senate. And while I do, I pledge to continue doing exactly what I promised – to be an independent voice for Arizona.”
Democrats recently took a 51st Senate position when Sen. Raphael Warnock won re-election in Georgia. The change from Democrat to Independent will not affect the balance of power in the Senate as she intends to caucus with the Democrats. Two other Independent Senators, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Sen. Angus King of Maine, also caucus with the Democrats.
