Senator Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Democratic Party and registers as an independent

By Chantal Da Silva and Mike Memoli -

Kyrsten Sinema, a senator from Arizona, has announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party and officially registering as an independent.

“In a natural extension of my service since I was first elected to Congress, I have joined the growing number of Arizonans rejecting partisan politics by declaring my independence from Washington's broken partisan system and formally registering as an independent with the state.” Sinema, 46, tweeted early on Friday.

“Over the past four years, I have proudly worked with other senators from both parties and forged consensus on successful laws that help everyday Arizonans build better lives for themselves and their families,” said the senator.

“Becoming an independent will not change my job in the Senate.

My service to Arizona remains the same,” she added.

Sinema's announcement came days after Democrats achieved a 51-49 majority in the Upper House following Sen. Raphael Warnock's victory in Georgia.

The Biden Administration was informed of Sinema's decision to leave the Democratic Party "by mid-afternoon" on Thursday, according to a senior Administration official.

The official added that the White House has been informed that Sinema will remain part of the Democratic caucus, becoming the third independent to do so, along with Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine.

"We don't think much will change, except his path to re-election," the official said.

In an opinion piece published by The Arizona Republic, Sinema expanded on her decision, stating that ordinary Americans were being "increasingly pushed aside by the rigid partisanship of national parties, which has hardened in recent years." years".

“Pressures in both parties pull leaders to the margins, allowing the loudest and most extreme voices to determine their respective party's priorities and hoping the rest of us fall in line,” he said.

And he added: "In serving the marginalized, neither party has shown much tolerance for diversity of thought."

Bipartisan compromise is seen as a rarely acceptable last resort, rather than the best way to achieve lasting progress.

Revenge against the opposition party has replaced thoughtful legislation."

Notably, Sinema did not join the rest of the Arizona Democratic delegation on Air Force One earlier this week, when President Biden held his first rally in the state as president.

However, Biden acknowledged Sinema in his remarks, saying: “I want to thank Senator Sinema, who cannot be with us today.

She is in Washington working on another important piece of legislation.

A tremendous advocate for the people of Arizona and a leader on so many important issues for this state."