Early Life and Education of Kyrsten Sinema: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Kyrsten Sinema. From birth to education, explore key events.

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

July 12, 1976: Kyrsten Sinema Born

On July 12, 1976, Kyrsten Lea Sinema was born. She later became a U.S. Senator for Arizona.

Others born on this day/year

1995: Graduates from BYU and Returns to Arizona

In 1995, Sinema graduated from Brigham Young University and returned to Arizona.

1999: Master of Social Work

In 1999, Sinema completed a Master of Social Work degree at Arizona State University.

2000: Works on Nader's Campaign

In 2000, Sinema worked on Ralph Nader's presidential campaign.

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: Adjunct Professor at ASU

In 2003, Sinema became an adjunct professor teaching master's-level policy and grant-writing classes at Arizona State University School of Social Work and an adjunct business law professor at Arizona Summit Law School.

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: J.D. Degree and Criminal Defense Lawyer

In 2004, Sinema earned a J.D. degree from Arizona State University College of Law and began working as a criminal defense lawyer.

2004: Joins Democratic Party

In 2004, Sinema left the Green Party and joined the Arizona Democratic Party.

2005: First Public Comment as Elected Official

In 2005, Sinema's first public comment as an elected official came after a Republican colleague's speech insulted LGBT people; she declared, 'We're simply people like everyone else who want and deserve respect,' and later confirmed 'Duh, I'm bisexual.'

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.

2006: Most Liberal Member

In 2006, Sinema told a radio host that she was "the most liberal member of the Arizona State Legislature".

2006: Opposition to Amendment Banning Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, Sinema was among the leading opponents of a proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution that would have banned same-sex marriages and civil unions. The proposal failed in Arizona.

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.

2008: Proposition 102 Passes

In 2008, Proposition 102, a similar referendum to Proposition 107, which would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona, passed.

2008: Harvard Program

In 2008, Sinema completed the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government program as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

2008: Opposition to Second Amendment Banning Same-Sex Marriage

In 2008, Sinema opposed a second proposed amendment to the Arizona constitution banning only same-sex marriage, which passed despite her opposition.

June 2011: Considering Run for U.S. House

In June 2011, Sinema said she was considering running for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 but would not challenge another Democrat in a primary.

2011: Arizona as "meth lab of democracy"

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

2012: Obama Wins District

In 2012, President Barack Obama won the district by four points.

2012: Ph.D. in Justice Studies

In 2012, Sinema earned a Ph.D. in justice studies from Arizona State University.

2012: Declines to Discuss Bisexuality

In 2012, while running for U.S. House, Sinema said she did not remember disclosing her sexual orientation in 2005 and declined to discuss the significance of being the first openly bisexual member of the House.

November 17, 2013: Completion of Ironman Triathlon

On November 17, 2013, Sinema completed an Ironman Triathlon in a little over 15 hours, becoming the second active member of Congress to finish a long-distance triathlon.

December 25, 2013: Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

On December 25, 2013, Sinema climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

2015: Publication of Dissertation

In 2015, Lexington Books published Sinema's doctoral dissertation on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, titled "Who Must Die in Rwanda's Genocide?: The State of Exception Realized."

Who Must Die in Rwanda's Genocide?: The State of Exception Realized

Check it on Amazon

2015: Ironman World Championship

In 2015, Sinema completed the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

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.

2018: Online M.B.A.

In 2018, Sinema completed an online M.B.A. from the W. P. Carey School of Business.

2019: Marathon Qualification

In 2019, Sinema completed a marathon in 3:28:17, which was fast enough for her (female) age group to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Two weeks before her Boston-qualifying race, she ran a three-mile race in 20:42, setting a record for women in Congress.

2020: Personal Marathon Record

In 2020, Sinema set a personal record of 3:21:45 in a marathon.

2021: Marathon Injury

In 2021, Sinema broke her right foot while running a marathon, requiring her to use a hands-free crutch.

December 2022: Sinema Becomes Independent

In December 2022, Kyrsten Sinema, formerly a member of the Democratic Party, became an independent.

2022: Attended Bilderberg Conference

In 2022, Sinema was the only U.S. elected official to attend the Bilderberg Conference, a private gathering of political and business elites from Europe and North America.