In a surprising move, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced she will not seek re-election in 2024, lambasting the rising partisan extremism that has made governing nearly impossible in today’s polarized political climate.
The centrist Independent’s decision to retire after just one term clears the way for a high-stakes Senate battle between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego in a race that could determine control of the upper chamber.
But in her announcement video, Sinema trained her fire on the toxic forces of radical ideology infecting both parties, warning that America has chosen “anger and division” over the compromise and pragmatism needed to solve real problems.
“In 2017, I warned we were approaching a crossroads,” she reflected. “Our democracy was weakened by government dysfunction and the constant pull to the extremes by both political parties.”
Sinema recounted her efforts to engage in “listening, understanding and compromise” to achieve bipartisan policy wins on infrastructure, clean water, jobs and community safety. But rather than celebrate substantive achievements, the former Democrat lamented how “these solutions are considered failures” in today’s hyper-partisan atmosphere where optics and “attacking your opponents” is paramount.
“The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic…Compromise is a dirty word,” she decried. “We’ve arrived at that crossroads. And we chose anger and division.”
With her centrist approach now out of step with the inflexible bases of both parties, Sinema defiantly declared “I believe in my approach, but it’s not what America wants right now.” Her retirement remarks channeled frustrations felt by many at the erosion of democratic norms and civility amid actors seeking only total partisan conquest.
While stepping back from the frontlines, the outgoing moderate warned in her parting words that her brand of “civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done” remains vital to upholding the republic – a pointed rebuke to those fanning the flames of discord threatening American unity.