As you probably already know, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) left the Democrat Party earlier this week.
The most significant impact this will have is during her re-election bid, with the GOP having a huge opportunity to steal this seat back.
With Sinema an independent and the Dems surely going to challenge her, they would split the liberal vote, leaving the door open for a huge GOP win.
She is still expected to caucus with the Democrats, which is probably why the White House chose to treat her defection very delicately.
Open Mind
Karine Jean-Pierre, on the defection, stated, “We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her.”
She continued, “Senator Sinema has been a key partner on some of the historic legislation President Biden has championed over the last 20 months, from the American Rescue Plan to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the CHIPS and Science Act, from the PACT Act to the Gun Safety Act to the Respect for Marriage Act, and more.”
On leaving the Democrat Party, Sinema added, “I don’t anticipate that anything will change about the Senate structure. I intend to show up to work, do the same work that I always do. I just intend to show up to work as an independent.”
The reality here is that Sinema usually falls in line with Biden save a few key issues for her constituents.
She is actually doing what she is paid to do, which is represent the people that put her into office, which I respect.
This administration knows that for the most part, she will vote on the Democrat side, so this is not a big deal until the next election pops up.
For now, Democrats keep the Senate, which is really all they are worried about.
Source: Daily Caller
