On Tuesday, Senator Kyrsten Sinema declared that she will not pursue re-election, sidestepping a potential three-way competition for her fiercely contested position.
Sinema, initially elected as a Democrat in 2018 before transitioning to an Independent affiliation in late 2022, expressed her discontent with the state of partisan politics.
“The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic — attacking your opponents on cable news or social media. Compromise is a dirty word,” she bemoaned.
“We’ve arrived at that crossroad and we chose anger and division. I believe in my approach, but it’s not what Americans want right now.”
A message for Arizonans from Senator Kyrsten Sinema pic.twitter.com/1XWFSWgGdh
— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) March 5, 2024
Sinema was under pressure to determine her candidacy by April, and due to her low fundraising figures, there was widespread speculation that she would not pursue another term.
With Sinema’s withdrawal from the race, progressive Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Republican figure Kari Lake have emerged as the leading contenders for their respective parties in the upcoming general election.
