Major Controversies Surrounding Kyrsten Sinema: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Kyrsten Sinema—discover key moments of controversy.

Kyrsten Sinema is an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator for Arizona from 2019 to 2025. Initially a Democrat, she became an independent in December 2022. Before entering politics, Sinema worked as a social worker.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

September 12, 2001: Opposition to War

On September 12, 2001, Sinema began her activism against war.

2002: Criticizes Capitalism

In 2002, The Arizona Republic published a letter from Sinema criticizing capitalism.

February 15, 2003: Anti-War Protest

On February 15, 2003, Sinema led a group in Phoenix that distributed flyers portraying a U.S. service member as a skeleton inflicting "U.S. terror" in Iraq and the Middle East during a protest in Patriots Square Park.

February 2003: Anti-War Rally

In February 2003, Sinema promoted a rally organized by Local to Global Justice, an anti-war group she co-founded, distributing flyers criticizing U.S. involvement in Iraq and the Middle East.

2003: Protests Lieberman's Presidential Bid

In 2003, Sinema protested Joe Lieberman's unsuccessful 2004 presidential bid.

2003: Controversial Statements

In 2003, Sinema stated that Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush were "the real Saddam and Osama lovers". She also said she didn't care if someone wanted to join the Taliban.

2004: Lieberman Presidential Bid

In 2004, Sinema protested Joe Lieberman's presidential bid, calling him a shame to Democrats.

2005: Air America Radio Show

In 2005, Sinema co-hosted an Air America radio show with 9/11 truther Jeff Farias.

2006: Criticism of "New Feminism"

In 2006, Sinema criticized "new feminism," saying it was "bullshit" for women to "leech off" their husbands. She later apologized.

2006: Opposition to War in All Forms

In 2006, Sinema expressed her opposition to "war in all its forms" and her continued stance against war since September 12, 2001.

November 4, 2008: Proposition 102 Approved

On November 4, 2008, Proposition 102, which proposed a ban on recognition of same-sex marriage in Arizona, was approved with 56% of the vote in the general election.

2011: Arizona as "meth lab of democracy"

In 2011, Sinema called Arizona the "meth lab of democracy" during an address to Netroots Nation.

2013: Supports Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act

In 2013, Sinema supported the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act of 2013, which sought to exempt certain financial instruments from some Dodd-Frank restrictions.

2015: Co-sponsors Anti-Regulation Bills

In 2015, Sinema co-sponsored other anti-regulation bills, including the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2015.

2016: Vote on FCC Regulation of Broadband Rates

In 2016, Sinema was one of five House Democrats to vote for a Republican-backed bill barring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating broadband rates.

2017: Homeless Escort Death

In 2017, a homeless escort died of a drug overdose at the California home of Ed Buck, a Democratic donor from whom Sinema had received campaign contributions that she later donated to charity in March 2018.

March 2018: Donation to Charity

In March 2018, Sinema donated $33,800 in campaign contributions received from Ed Buck to charity. These contributions came under scrutiny after a homeless escort's drug overdose death at Buck's California home in 2017.

July 2018: Vote Against Abolishing ICE

In July 2018, Sinema broke with her party by voting with Republicans against abolishing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

2018: Criticism of Democratic leadership

In the summer of 2018, Sinema stated that if elected to the U.S. Senate, she would vote against Chuck Schumer for Minority Leader, citing the Democratic leadership's failure to support Democrats across the country and expressing the need for the party to grow and change.

April 2019: Confirmation Vote for David Bernhardt

In April 2019, Sinema was one of three Democrats who voted with Republicans to confirm David Bernhardt, a former oil executive, as Secretary of the Interior Department.

2019: Pharmaceutical PAC Contributions

For the 2019–20 election cycle through March, political action committees run by employees of drug companies and their trade groups gave her $98,500 in campaign funds.

2019: Net Neutrality Bill

In 2019, Sinema was the sole Senate Democrat not to co-sponsor the Save the Internet Act, which would restore Obama-era regulations preventing ISPs from throttling consumers' website traffic. She worked with Senate Republican Roger Wicker to develop their own net neutrality bill.

January 2021: Voting Record

According to FiveThirtyEight, as of January 2021, Sinema had voted in line with Donald Trump's position on legislation about 50% of the time, leading the Arizona Democratic Party to suggest censuring her.

January 25, 2021: Opposition to Eliminating the Filibuster

On January 25, 2021, a spokesperson for Sinema told The Washington Post that she is "against eliminating the filibuster" and "not open to changing her mind" on the issue.

February 4, 2021: Vote Against COVID-19 Support for Undocumented Immigrants

On February 4, 2021, Sinema voted against providing COVID-19 pandemic financial support to undocumented immigrants.

February 12, 2021: Opposition to Minimum Wage Increase

On February 12, 2021, Sinema announced her opposition, joining Joe Manchin, to including a $15/hour minimum wage in a COVID-19 relief bill.

March 5, 2021: Vote Against Minimum Wage Increase

On March 5, 2021, Sinema voted against Senator Bernie Sanders' proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, using a thumbs-down gesture.

October 8, 2021: Opposition to Prescription Drug Pricing Reform

In 2021, Sinema opposed prescription drug pricing reform proposals in House and Senate versions of a Democrat-crafted spending bill. On October 8, 2021, Jacobin reported on this.

October 2021: Veterans Resign from Advisory Council

In October 2021, five veterans resigned from Sinema's advisory council, accusing her of prioritizing big donors over her constituents and criticizing her opposition to key Democratic Party issues.

October 18, 2021: Discussion of Concerns with Bills

On October 18, 2021, Politico reported that Sinema and Senator Joe Manchin met with President Biden the same day to discuss their concerns with the bills.

January 2022: Vote Against Senate Filibuster Rule Change

In January 2022, Sinema and Joe Manchin voted against changing the Senate filibuster rule, leading to censure by the Arizona Democratic Party executive committee.

January 22, 2022: Censure by Arizona Democratic Party

On January 22, 2022, the Arizona Democratic Party executive board voted to censure Sinema for voting with Senate Republicans to maintain the filibuster, which prevented the passage of a voting rights bill.

June 2022: Reaction to Overturning of Roe v. Wade

After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Sinema stated that the decision endangers the health and well-being of women in Arizona and across America.

December 2024: Vote to Block NLRB Renomination

In December 2024, Sinema, along with Joe Manchin and Republican senators, voted to block Lauren McFerran's renomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), potentially shifting control to Republicans.