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Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has apparently made a decision about whether she will run for reelection next year, and it’s not likely to sit well with her old Democratic Party.
Sinema, who declared herself an Independent late last year but continued to caucus with Democrats, is planning to run as a third-party candidate in a state that has become a new political battleground — and decidedly purple — in recent years.
A third-party campaign by Sinema could create a highly competitive three-way Senate race in Arizona, which could be a nightmare scenario for the Democrats in a crucial battleground state, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that Sinema and her team recently held a staff retreat in Phoenix. The group reportedly reviewed a slideshow that outlined a possible timeline for her candidacy, according to slides that were reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Although Sinema has not yet announced her intentions, the materials suggest that she is taking steps towards running for re-election, the WSJ reported.
“A re-election campaign by Ms. Sinema would have significant implications for the battle for the Senate in 2024 and will test whether a senator who has spurned a traditional party identity can build enough of a centrist coalition to win,” the outlet continued.
Last year, when Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an independent, it caused doubts among political strategists about whether she would seek a second term. During her time with the Democratic Party, she often clashed with party leaders and progressive activists. However, despite her departure from the party, Sinema still caucuses with the Democrats and remains a crucial vote in their current slim majority of 51-49, the WSJ noted.
“The slides reviewed by the Journal lay out details on timing. One slide breaks down the timeline through the remainder of 2023, including getting a poll and opposition research done by Sept. 30 and getting in place campaign staff by Dec. 31,” the paper said.
“Another slide on current communications strategy emphasizes her independent streak in the Senate. Ms. Sinema has been at the center of several high-profile bipartisan deals, including on infrastructure, gun and same-sex and interracial marriage laws, while also frustrating many Democrats over her efforts to sometimes block President Biden’s agenda,” the paper continued.
The slide read, according to the WSJ: “Kyrsten is an independent voice for Arizona. As Arizona’s senior senator, she’s committed to ignoring partisan politics, shutting out the noise and delivering real results helping everyday Arizonans build better lives for themselves and their families.”
The report said that Sinema’s office would not confirm or deny details of the staff retreat. That said, the filing deadline for U.S. Senate in Arizona is April 2024.
During a series of events on Thursday, Sinema emphasized her independent identity, the outlet noted. She was awarded by the national and state farm bureaus and had a lunch with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. She listed her achievements in Congress and criticized lawmakers she called “show horses” who appear on television shows without doing hard work.
Sinema noted that both the Democratic and Republican parties had been moving to the extremes and argued that her support for the Senate legislative filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, helped protect the country from major swings in policy the paper noted.
“It’s our job to keep that pressure so that we stay right in the middle of public policy, protect the critical middle part of our country,” she told attendees at the farm bureau event.
Sinema has completed a procedural step to run as an independent by filing the required paperwork to raise funds. However, to officially be on the ballot, she needs to collect over 40,000 signatures from non-affiliated voters, which could take time and cost between $5 to $25 per name. This process requires campaign consultants and efforts to gather signatures from independents, said the WSJ.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, 43, has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, making him the only major candidate so far. The Marine vet has been vocal about his concerns over Sinema’s connections with big businesses and her inclination to break from the Democratic Party’s priorities.
