After Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s announcement that she was leaving the Democratic Party, the White House released a statement saying that the administration expected to “work with her successfully.”
According to Politico, Sinema said Friday that she would change her party affiliation from Independent to Independent. However, the change would not affect her “values” and “behavior.” The Senate is dominated by Democrats.
Sinema stated to Politico that she doesn’t expect any changes in the Senate structure. Sinema stated, “I will show up to work and do the same work as I have always done.” I am just going to show up to work independent.
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, stated in a statement that “We understand that she registered as an independent in Arizona does no change the new Democratic majority control over the Senate. We have every reason to believe that we will continue working successfully with her.”
Sinema had met President Joe Biden on several occasions to push his agenda through 50-50 Senate. This was before the midterms. Democratic West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin won the decisive votes. Sinema was an important player in negotiations for the Build Back Better Act and stood in the way Biden’s tax cuts being reversed by the Trump administration.
Jean-Pierre said, “Senator Sinema was a key partner in some of the historic legislation President Biden championed over 20 months, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Acts, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, the Gun Safety Act and the Respect for Marriage Act.
