Kyrsten Sinema considering running as an independent in Senate race

Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is preparing to run as an independent candidate in 2024, hosting a three-way contest in the highly competitive state for a seat that could decide control of the Senate.

Sinema, who left the Democratic party in December, huddled in Arizona this week with aides to draft a campaign plan and timetable, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The 46-year-old senator has been a thorn in the side of Democratic leaders and outraged liberals for not supporting some of President Joe Biden’s plans for social programs.

Sinema’s controversial stances and her move to independent status led to questions about whether she would seek a second term. Currently, she is still negotiating with the Democrats so they can maintain their one-seat majority in the Senate.

But others argue that Sinema has shown remarkable political savvy and established himself as an influential power player in the upper chamber.

She was the center of the ring as she negotiated some of the biggest pieces of legislation before Congress. But she has also refused to support some of Democratic leadership’s priorities, such as ending the filibuster.

She attracts attention not only for her political power, but also for her fashion sense: she is hard to miss in her colorful outfits. During the pandemic, she wore brightly colored wigs because she said she couldn’t go to the hair salon.

The slideshow – created by Sinema’s team and seen by the log — indicated that the senator is seeking a poll in the state for one term by September 30 and have her campaign team ready by December 31.

Her campaign strategy includes emphasizing her independence.

She has tried to bond with the late Senator John McCain of Arizona, who proudly boasted of his “maverick” moniker and his ability to zigzag along the political line.

Even before switching sides, she hung out on the Republican side of the aisle and formed a close friendship with GOP Senator Mitt Romney.

The filing deadline to appear on the ballot in Arizona is April 2024. Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego has already applied to run on the Democratic ticket as a Senate candidate.

Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego has applied to run on the Democratic ticket as a Senate candidate

Failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is considering a Senate bid

Sinema has filed all the paperwork to run as an independent, allowing her to raise funds for the 2024 campaign.

It also allows her to avoid a primary with Gallego, a favorite of liberals and a Navy veteran, who has emphasized his local roots, his closeness to his family, and how he grew up in poverty to become a member of Congress.

But running independently also has its challenges for Sinema.

First, to appear on the ballot, it is estimated she must collect more than 40,000 signatures from independent voters.

Then Sinema will have to compete against a Democratic and Republican candidate – setting up a three-way league.

On the GOP side, Kari Lake, the former television host who narrowly lost a bid for governor in 2022, is considering a bid. Some Republicans fear her association with Donald Trump could cost them a Senate seat.

And some Democrats are concerned that Gallego is too liberal for that state that is a political hodgepodge.

The Arizona electorate is split evenly in three ways. Among voters: About 35% are registered Republicans, 31% are registered Democrats (30.5%), and 34% are independents.

Sinema’s road to victory could involve those independent voters with a combination of peeling back her longtime Democratic supporters along with moderate Republicans worried about the GOP’s more right-wing contenders.

She’s already trying to isolate herself with it.

“Removing myself from the partisan structure – not only is it true to who I am and how I work, I think it will provide a place of belonging for many people in the state and country, who are also tired of partisanship.” she told CNN shortly after her party change.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema is known for her politically savvy and daring fashion sense

Even before becoming independent, Senator Sinema was friends with many Republicans, including GOP Senator Mitt Romney

Sinema has ridden tough races before. When she ran for the first time in 2018 and won, she became the first Democrat in three decades to win an Arizona Senate race.

Arizona is a competitive state for both parties, but the Democrats have made gains there over the past few cycles.

In addition to winning the governor’s office last year, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly won his race. And President Joe Biden carried the state in 2020, the first Democratic presidential candidate to do so since 1992.