Kyrsten Sinema

In the 2018 midterm elections, Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, was elected as the first female United States Senator from Arizona, defeating Republican candidate Martha McSally. This victory marked the first time a Democrat had been elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona since 1988. Sinema's campaign focused on bipartisanship and she positioned herself as a moderate, appealing to both Democratic and Republican voters. Her win was significant as she became the first openly bisexual person elected to the U.S. Senate.

Kyrsten Sinema was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2019. She made history as the first female senator from Arizona and the first openly bisexual senator in U.S. history. During her swearing-in ceremony, she caused a stir by opting to be sworn in using a law book instead of a Bible, which she chose to reflect her secular values. Sinema's swearing-in marked the beginning of her six-year term representing Arizona.

On March 5, 2021, Kyrsten Sinema was one of the eight Democratic Senators who voted against an amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act, which proposed to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Sinema defended her vote by emphasizing that the wage increase should be separate from COVID-19 relief measures, arguing for a more targeted approach to wage policy. Her vote drew significant attention and criticism from progressive activists and constituents.

In June 2021, Kyrsten Sinema was instrumental in leading a bipartisan group of senators, alongside Rob Portman, to negotiate an infrastructure plan with the Biden administration. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package focused on physical projects such as roads, bridges, and broadband access. Sinema's leadership in the negotiations was seen as pivotal to bridging the divide between Republicans and Democrats in Congress and displayed her commitment to bipartisanship.

During the fall of 2021, Kyrsten Sinema faced intense criticism from progressives and Democratic activists for her strong stance in favor of maintaining the filibuster in the Senate. Sinema argued that the filibuster was a critical tool to encourage bipartisan cooperation and prevent major swings in legislative policies with changing political tides. Her stance was seen as a significant roadblock to passing major legislative priorities for the Democratic party, including voting rights reform.

Kyrsten Sinema was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in December 2021 for her independent stance in the Senate and her efforts to seek bipartisan solutions. The award recognized her role in leading bipartisan negotiations and her willingness to take controversial positions, even in the face of significant political pressure. Sinema emphasized her commitment to the values of independent thinking and cross-party collaboration during her acceptance speech.

On January 13, 2022, Kyrsten Sinema gave a speech on the Senate floor reiterating her opposition to changing the filibuster rules. This speech came at a crucial time when Democratic leadership was advocating for filibuster reform to pass significant voting rights legislation. Sinema maintained that ensuring the filibuster's continuation was essential to protect the institution of the Senate and to foster bipartisanship, despite the potential cost to the passage of voting rights bills Democrats saw as paramount.

On December 9, 2022, Kyrsten Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party to register as an independent. She emphasized that this move was driven by her desire to align more closely with Arizona's politically diverse electorate and to work more effectively beyond partisan confines. The decision was a landmark move that redefined her political identity. Sinema pledged to maintain her committee assignments and continue to work with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

In March 2023, Kyrsten Sinema faced accusations of violating Senate ethics rules related to her fundraising activities. A formal complaint was filed citing that she organized a fundraiser on the same day as a hearing on the corporate tax policy, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Sinema denied any wrongdoing, stating that the fundraiser had been planned prior to the scheduling of the hearing. The incident highlighted ongoing scrutiny over her fundraising practices and relationships with lobbyists.

In May 2023, Kyrsten Sinema joined efforts to push for significant immigration reform, stressing the need for a balanced approach that includes border security and protection for Dreamers. Sinema co-sponsored legislation with a bipartisan group of senators aimed at improving border security, simplifying legal immigration processes, and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Her involvement underscored her ongoing commitment to working across party lines.