Kyrsten Sinema is a United States Senator from Arizona, a position she has held since 2019. Sinema was a member of the Democratic Party, but became an Independent in December 2022. Before entering politics, she worked as a social worker.
July 12, 1976: Kyrsten Sinema is born
On July 12, 1976, Kyrsten Lea Sinema was born.
1977: Dennis DeConcini Elected to Senate
Dennis DeConcini became the last Democrat to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate before Kyrsten Sinema. He served from 1977.
1994: Sinema writes doctoral dissertation on Rwandan genocide
In 1994, Kyrsten Sinema wrote a doctoral dissertation on the Rwandan genocide, which was later published in 2015 by Lexington Books under the title 'Who Must Die in Rwanda's Genocide?: The State of Exception Realized'.
1995: Sinema earns her B.A. from Brigham Young University
Sinema earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1995 at age 18.
1995: Dennis DeConcini Left Senate
Dennis DeConcini, the last Democrat to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate before Kyrsten Sinema, concluded his service in 1995.
1999: Sinema earns her Masters of Social Work degree
In 1999, Sinema earned her masters degree in social work from Arizona State University.
2000: Sinema works on Ralph Nader's presidential campaign
In 2000, Sinema worked on Ralph Nader's presidential campaign.
September 12, 2001: Sinema opposes war following 9/11
On September 12, 2001, Kyrsten Sinema, as one of the core organizers against the war, expressed her opposition to war in all its forms, a stance she continued to hold in subsequent years.
2001: Sinema runs for local office
Sinema ran for local elected office in 2001 as an independent and lost.
2002: Sinema runs for local office
In 2002, Sinema ran for local elected office as an independent and lost.
2002: Sinema runs for Arizona House of Representatives
In 2002, Sinema ran for the Arizona House of Representatives as an independent affiliated with the Arizona Green Party and lost.
February 2003: Sinema leads antiwar rally
In February 2003, as an antiwar activist, Kyrsten Sinema led a group that distributed flyers depicting an American soldier as a skeleton inflicting 'U.S. terror' in Iraq and the Middle East. She co-founded the anti-war group Local to Global Justice and was an organizer and sponsor of the rally.
February 15, 2003: Sinema leads protest in Patriots Square Park
On February 15, 2003, Sinema led a group that distributed controversial flyers at a protest in Patriot's Square Park in Phoenix.
2003: Sinema writes an opinion piece
In 2003, Sinema wrote an opinion piece where she stated that Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush were "the real Saddam and Osama lovers".
2003: Sinema protests Joe Lieberman's presidential bid
In 2003, Sinema protested Joe Lieberman's unsuccessful 2004 presidential bid.
2003: Sinema becomes an adjunct professor
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.
2004: Sinema is elected to the Arizona House of Representatives
In 2004, Sinema and David Lujan won the two seats for Arizona's 15th district.
2004: Sinema earns her J.D. degree
In 2004, Sinema earned her J.D. degree from Arizona State University College of Law and began working as a criminal defense lawyer.
2004: Sinema joins the Arizona Democratic Party
In 2004, Sinema joined the Arizona Democratic Party.
2004: Lieberman's presidential bid is unsuccessful
Joe Lieberman's 2004 presidential bid was unsuccessful.
2004: Sinema joins the Arizona Democratic Party
Sinema joined the Arizona Democratic Party in 2004.
2005: Sinema co-hosts radio show with 9/11 truther
In 2005, Kyrsten Sinema co-hosted an Air America radio show with 9/11 truther Jeff Farias, continuing her anti-war activism.
2005: Sinema begins serving as a state representative
Sinema began serving as a state representative for the 15th legislative district in 2005.
2005: Sinema makes first public comment as an elected official
Sinema made her first public comment as an elected official in 2005, responding to a Republican colleague's speech that insulted LGBT people.
2006: Sinema Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban
In 2006, Kyrsten Sinema actively campaigned against a proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution that sought to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions. This marked the first time a state successfully rejected a ban on same-sex marriage.
2006: Sinema states opposition to all forms of war
In 2006, Kyrsten Sinema reiterated her opposition to war in all its forms, highlighting her consistent anti-war stance since September 12, 2001.
2006: Sinema makes controversial statements about "new feminism"
In 2006, Sinema made controversial statements about "new feminism" during an interview, and later apologized for her comments.
2006: Sinema sponsors bill urging the adoption of the DREAM Act
In 2006, Sinema sponsored a bill urging the adoption of the DREAM Act, and co-chaired Arizona Together, the statewide campaign that defeated Proposition 107.
2007: Sinema Introduces Bill to Replace Death Sentences
In 2007, while serving in the Arizona State Legislature, Sinema introduced HB 2278, a bill that would replace death sentences with life without parole.
November 4, 2008: Proposition 102 Passed
Kyrsten Sinema campaigned against Proposition 102, a referendum to ban same-sex marriage recognition in Arizona. Despite her efforts, the proposition was approved on November 4, 2008, with 56% of the vote.
2008: Sinema completes program at Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government
In 2008, Sinema completed the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government program for senior executives in state and local government.
2008: Sinema Continues Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights
In 2008, Sinema continued her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights by opposing a second proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution aiming to ban same-sex marriage.
2008: Proposition 102 passes
In 2008, Proposition 102, which banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona, passed.
June 2009: Appointed to White House Health Reform Task Force
In June 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Kyrsten Sinema to the White House Health Reform Task Force, which played a crucial role in shaping the Affordable Care Act.
2009: Sinema's Stance on the Death Penalty
In her 2009 book, Unite and Conquer, Sinema explained her opposition to the death penalty. While working as a spokesperson for the Arizona Green Party, she worked to repeal it.
2009: Sinema becomes assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives
Sinema began working as an assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives in 2009.
March 2010: Attended Obamacare Bill Signing
Kyrsten Sinema was invited to the White House in March 2010 for the signing of the Affordable Care Act, acknowledging her contributions to the bill.
2010: Sinema is elected to the Arizona Senate
In 2010, Sinema was elected to the Arizona Senate, defeating Republican Bob Thomas.
2010: Named one of Time Magazine's "40 Under 40"
Kyrsten Sinema was recognized for her achievements and potential in 2010 by being named one of Time magazine's "40 Under 40".
2010: Sinema ends her role as assistant Minority Leader
Sinema finished her role as assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010.
2010: Sinema Participates in Arizona Death Penalty Forum Conference
Sinema served as an Advisory Board Member of the Arizona Death Penalty Forum and was a presenter at their 2010 Spring Conference.
June 2011: Considered Running for U.S. House
In June 2011, Kyrsten Sinema expressed her interest in running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming 2012 elections.
2011: Sinema calls Arizona the "meth lab of democracy"
In 2011, Sinema made a controversial statement, calling Arizona the "meth lab of democracy" during an address to Netroots Nation.
2011: Sinema begins serving as a state senator
Sinema began serving as a state senator for the 15th legislative district in 2011.
2011: Received Award for the Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy
The Center for Inquiry honored Kyrsten Sinema with its Award for the Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy in 2011.
January 3, 2012: Announced Bid for Congress
Kyrsten Sinema announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 9th congressional district on January 3, 2012.
August 28, 2012: Won Democratic Primary for Congress
On August 28, 2012, Kyrsten Sinema secured victory in the three-way Democratic primary for Arizona's 9th congressional district, gaining almost 42% of the votes.
2012: President Obama Won District
President Barack Obama won the district Kyrsten Sinema represented by four points in 2012.
2012: Sinema calls for healthcare law reforms
In a 2012 congressional campaign debate, Kyrsten Sinema called for reforms to the Affordable Care Act, stating it was not perfect and she would work to amend it to make it more effective.
2012: Sinema is elected to the United States House of Representatives
In 2012, Sinema was elected to the United States House of Representatives.
2012: Sinema earns her Ph.D. in justice studies
In 2012, Sinema earned her Ph.D. in justice studies from Arizona State.
2012: Sinema declines to discuss her sexual orientation
In 2012, Sinema declined to discuss the significance of being the first openly bisexual member of the House.
2012: Sinema's shift to a more moderate profile
By 2012, Kyrsten Sinema's political positions had shifted from her earlier antiwar activism, developing a more moderate profile since her election to Congress that year.
2012: Sinema's views on military force evolve
After joining Congress in 2012, Kyrsten Sinema stated that her views on military force had evolved, advocating for aggressive diplomacy, crippling sanctions, and multilateral intervention as a last resort. She voted against the Iran Nuclear Deal and supported Trump's missile attack on Syria.
2012: Sinema Advocates for Fair Pathway to Citizenship
During her 2012 campaign, Sinema's website outlined her stance on immigration, advocating for a "tough but fair path to citizenship for undocumented workers" that involved fulfilling specific requirements such as paying back taxes, fines, and learning English.
June 2013: Sinema Co-Sponsors Bill to Limit NSA Surveillance
In June 2013, Sinema became one of the initial 29 bipartisan cosponsors of the LIBERT-E Act, aimed at restricting the National Security Agency's (NSA) electronic data collection to individuals under investigation.
July 2013: Sinema Votes Against Amendment Restricting NSA Surveillance
In July 2013, Sinema joined a bipartisan majority in voting against an amendment to a defense appropriations bill, proposed by Rep. Justin Amash, which sought to prohibit the NSA from conducting warrantless monitoring and recording of U.S. citizens' telecommunications.
November 17, 2013: Sinema Completes Ironman Triathlon
On November 17, 2013, Sinema completed an Ironman Triathlon in slightly over 15 hours, becoming the second active member of Congress, after Senator Jeff Merkley, to accomplish a long-distance triathlon. She was the first to complete an Ironman-branded race.
December 25, 2013: Sinema Summits Mount Kilimanjaro
On December 25, 2013, Sinema reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, demonstrating her adventurous spirit and physical capabilities.
2013: Sinema supports healthcare-related legislation
In 2013, Kyrsten Sinema voted to repeal the Medical Device Tax and supported the Keep Your Health Plan Act.
2013: Sinema begins serving as a United States Representative
In 2013, Sinema begins her term serving as the United States representative for the 9th district.
2013: Sinema Condemns Saudi Arabia's Treatment of LGBTQ+ Community
In 2013, Sinema co-sponsored a letter initiated by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, condemning Saudi Arabia for its use of torture and capital punishment against individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
2013: Supported Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act
In 2013, on the House Financial Services Committee, Kyrsten Sinema showed support for the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act, which intended to relieve some financial instruments from certain Dodd-Frank limitations.
2013: Sinema Ranked as Bipartisan House Member
In 2013, the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy ranked Sinema as the sixth most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
August 26, 2014: Unopposed in Democratic Primary
Kyrsten Sinema faced no opposition in the Democratic primary for her House seat on August 26, 2014, solidifying her position as the Democratic candidate for the general election.
September 2014: Endorsed by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
In September 2014, Kyrsten Sinema received an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her re-election campaign, marking her as one of the few Democrats to gain their support in the 2014 congressional election cycle.
2014: NRA rates Sinema 'D'
In 2014, the NRA Political Victory Fund gave Kyrsten Sinema a 'D' rating for her support of gun control measures, including requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows and requiring a license for gun possession.
2014: UnidosUS Awards Sinema High Score on Immigration
In 2014, UnidosUS, an organization advocating for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, gave Sinema an 88% score for her stance on immigration-related issues.
2014: Sinema votes to delay fines for not purchasing insurance
In 2014, Kyrsten Sinema voted to delay the imposition of fines on those who did not purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
2015: Publication of Sinema's dissertation on Rwandan genocide
In 2015, Lexington Books published Kyrsten Sinema's doctoral dissertation on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, titled 'Who Must Die in Rwanda's Genocide?: The State of Exception Realized'.
2015: Sinema Completes Ironman World Championship
In 2015, Sinema successfully completed the Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hawaii, showcasing her endurance and athleticism.
2015: Sinema's Voting Record and Party Alignment
In 2015, Sinema voted with the majority of her party 73% of the time. She also did not vote for Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the U.S. House that year.
2015: Co-sponsored Anti-Regulation Bills
Kyrsten Sinema co-sponsored bills aiming to reduce regulations in 2015, including the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act, which contained provisions that Silicon Valley Bank President Gregory W. Becker had previously advocated for in congressional testimony.
2015: United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015
The United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015 was reauthorized in a bill that Sinema voted for on February 5, 2019.
2015: Sinema votes on estate tax repeal and CFPB leadership change
In 2015, Kyrsten Sinema was one of seven House Democrats to vote in favor of a Republican-backed bill to repeal the estate tax, affecting about 0.2% of Americans. Additionally, she voted to change the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's leadership from a single director to a bipartisan commission.
2016: Sinema cosponsors Working Parents Flexibility Act
In 2016, Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Working Parents Flexibility Act with Republican representative John Katko. This legislation aimed to establish tax-free parental savings accounts for investments that could be rolled into qualifying retirement, college savings, or ABLE accounts for people with disabilities without tax penalties.
2016: Sinema Supports Republican-Backed FCC Regulation Bill
In 2016, Sinema was among five House Democrats who supported a Republican-backed bill that aimed to prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating broadband rates. Her vote deviated from the stance of other Democrats who strongly opposed the measure, and President Obama had indicated his intention to veto it if it passed.
2016: Sinema's Conservative Leanings as House Democrat
In 2016, the National Journal gave Sinema a composite ideology score of 57% liberal and 43% conservative, marking her as one of the most conservative House Democrats during her tenure.
September 28, 2017: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate
Kyrsten Sinema formally declared her candidacy for the Class I United States Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Jeff Flake on September 28, 2017.
2017: GOP tax cuts passed
In 2017, the GOP passed individual tax cuts, which Sinema later voted to make permanent in 2018, breaking with her party on this issue.
2017: Sinema Votes for Thin Blue Line Act
In 2017, Sinema voted in favor of H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act of 2017, which expanded the list of aggravating factors in death penalty determinations.
2017: McCain's thumbs-down vote
In 2017, former Arizona senator John McCain made a dramatic thumbs-down gesture while voting, a move later echoed by Kyrsten Sinema in 2021 during her vote against the $15/hour minimum wage increase.
2017: Homeless Escort Died at Ed Buck's Home
In 2017, a homeless escort died of a drug overdose at the California residence of Ed Buck, a prominent Democratic donor. This incident led to increased scrutiny of Buck.
March 2018: Donated Campaign Contributions from Ed Buck
In March 2018, Kyrsten Sinema donated $33,800 in campaign contributions she had received from Ed Buck to charity. Buck, a well-known Democratic donor, had attracted scrutiny after a homeless escort died of a drug overdose at his California home in 2017.
April 2018: Raised Over $8.2 Million in Campaign Funds
By April 2018, financial disclosures from the Federal Election Commission revealed that Kyrsten Sinema had raised over $8.2 million for her campaign. This sum surpassed the combined total raised by the three leading Republican contenders in the primary.
July 2018: Sinema Votes Against Abolishing ICE
In July 2018, Sinema deviated from her Democratic Party by siding with Republicans in a vote against abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
September 2018: Described as Running a Moderate Campaign
In September 2018, journalist Jonathan Martin characterized Kyrsten Sinema's Senate campaign as remarkably moderate and cautious, noting her tendency to maintain distance from the media and avoid contentious issues. He also observed her campaign's general reluctance to discuss President Donald Trump.
September 2018: Sinema votes to make GOP tax cuts permanent
In September 2018, Kyrsten Sinema voted to make individual tax cuts passed by the GOP in 2017 permanent. She was one of three Democrats to break with her party on this issue.
2018: Won Democratic Primary for Senate
Kyrsten Sinema won the Democratic primary for Arizona's U.S. Senate seat in August 2018 and received the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign. She chose not to debate her opponent in the Democratic primary, Deedra Abboud.
2018: Sinema completes an online MBA
In 2018, Sinema completed an online MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business.
2018: Stated Intention to Vote Against Chuck Schumer for Minority Leader
In the summer of 2018, Kyrsten Sinema declared her intention to vote against Chuck Schumer for Minority Leader if she were elected to the U.S. Senate. She expressed her belief that the Democratic leadership had failed Democrats and emphasized her willingness to speak her mind about the party's need for growth and change.
2018: NRA rates Sinema 'D' again
In 2018, the NRA Political Victory Fund once again rated Kyrsten Sinema a 'D' for her support of gun control measures. Gun Owners of America rated her at 17%.
2018: Sinema Receives Mixed Ratings on Immigration Stance
In 2018, Sinema's stance on immigration garnered mixed ratings from advocacy groups. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which seeks to limit immigration, gave her a 33% rating, while UnidosUS, a group supporting a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, awarded her an 88% score in 2014.
2018: Sinema wins the Senate election
In 2018, Sinema won the Senate election, defeating Republican nominee Martha McSally.
2018: Sinema Supports Roe v. Wade
In 2018, Sinema stated that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned and expressed support for a woman's right to have an abortion.
2018: Mark Kelly Defeated Martha McSally
In 2018, Mark Kelly, a Democrat, defeated Martha McSally in a special election for Arizona's U.S. Senate seat. This victory established Kelly as the junior U.S. senator from Arizona. McSally had been appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated upon the resignation of Jon Kyl, who had himself been appointed following John McCain's death.
January 3, 2019: Sworn In to the U.S. Senate
Kyrsten Sinema was officially sworn into the 116th United States Congress on January 3, 2019.
February 12, 2019: Sinema votes for Natural Resources Management Act
On February 12, 2019, Kyrsten Sinema voted along with the entire Senate for the Natural Resources Management Act, which provides for the management of the natural resources of the United States.
February 14, 2019: Voted to Confirm William Barr as Attorney General
Kyrsten Sinema cast her vote in favor of confirming William Barr as Attorney General on February 14, 2019.
February 2019: Sinema sponsors Employer Participation in Repayment Act
In February 2019, Kyrsten Sinema was one of 20 senators to sponsor the Employer Participation in Repayment Act, which enables employers to contribute up to $5,250 to their employees' student loans.
March 13, 2019: Sinema Votes to Remove U.S. Armed Forces from Yemen
On March 13, 2019, Sinema voted to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Yemen that had not been authorized by Congress.
March 14, 2019: Sinema Opposes Trump's Border Security Emergency Declaration
On March 14, 2019, Sinema voted against President Trump's declaration of a national emergency concerning border security.
April 2019: Sinema votes against Green New Deal and for Bernhardt's confirmation
In April 2019, Kyrsten Sinema was one of four Democratic-caucusing senators to vote against the Green New Deal and one of three Democrats to vote with Republicans to confirm David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior Department.
July 30, 2019: Proposal for advancing child tax credit benefits
On July 30, 2019, Kyrsten Sinema and Senator Bill Cassidy released a proposal allowing new parents to advance their child tax credit benefits to receive a $5,000 cash benefit upon the birth or adoption of a child, with a subsequent reduction of $500 per year over the next decade.
2019: Sinema ends her term as a U.S. Representative
Sinema ends her term as the U.S. Representative for the 9th district in 2019.
2019: Sinema Does Not Co-sponsor Net Neutrality Bill
In 2019, Sinema was the sole Senate Democrat who did not cosponsor the Save the Internet Act, which intended to reinstate Obama-era regulations that prevented internet service providers (ISPs) from throttling consumers' website traffic. Instead, she collaborated with Republican Senator Roger Wicker to develop their own alternative net neutrality bill.
2019: Sinema becomes Senior United States Senator from Arizona
In 2019, Sinema began serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona.
2019: Sinema Qualifies for Boston Marathon
In 2019, Sinema achieved a marathon time of 3:28:17, fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon within her female age group. Two weeks prior, she set a congressional record for women with a three-mile race time of 20:42.
2020: Sinema Sets Personal Marathon Record
In 2020, Sinema achieved a personal best marathon time of 3:21:45, further demonstrating her athletic prowess.
2020: Sinema Receives Ratings from Abortion-Related Organizations
In 2020, Sinema received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and a 0% rating from the Campaign for Working Families, reflecting her stance on abortion rights.
January 6, 2021: Sinema Urges Support for January 6 Commission
On January 6, 2021, Kyrsten Sinema urged her Senate colleagues to vote in favor of the proposed January 6 commission to investigate the storming of the United States Capitol. However, she did not vote on it herself, citing a "personal family matter".
January 2021: Sinema's Voting Record Aligns with Trump's Position
In January 2021, FiveThirtyEight reported that Sinema had voted in line with Donald Trump's position on legislation about 50% of the time. This led to the Arizona Democratic Party considering censuring her, but they ultimately tabled the resolution.
January 25, 2021: Sinema Expresses Opposition to Eliminating the Filibuster
On January 25, 2021, a spokesperson for Sinema informed The Washington Post of her firm opposition to eliminating the Senate filibuster, emphasizing her unwavering stance on the issue.
February 4, 2021: Sinema Votes Against COVID-19 Aid for Undocumented Immigrants
On February 4, 2021, Sinema cast a vote against a measure that would have provided financial assistance to undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 12, 2021: Sinema opposes $15/hour minimum wage in COVID-19 relief bill
On February 12, 2021, Kyrsten Sinema became the second Democratic senator to announce her opposition to including a $15/hour minimum wage as part of a COVID-19 relief bill.
March 5, 2021: Sinema votes against $15/hour minimum wage increase
On March 5, 2021, Kyrsten Sinema voted against increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, a proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Her vote, marked by a notable thumbs-down gesture, was criticized and compared to former Arizona senator John McCain and former French queen Marie Antoinette.
October 8, 2021: Sinema opposes prescription drug pricing reform
On October 8, 2021, Kyrsten Sinema opposed prescription drug pricing reform proposals in the House and Senate versions of a Democrat-crafted spending bill.
October 2021: Resignations from Sinema's Advisory Council
In October 2021, five veterans resigned from Sinema's advisory council, criticizing her for "answering to big donors rather than your own people" and her opposition to key Democratic issues.
October 18, 2021: Politico Reports on Sinema's Pharmaceutical Ties
On October 18, 2021, Politico published a report detailing Senator Kyrsten Sinema's close ties to the pharmaceutical industry and her significant campaign contributions from pharmaceutical PACs.
2021: Sinema Fractures Foot During Marathon
In 2021, Sinema fractured her right foot while running a marathon, requiring her to use a hands-free crutch for support.
January 2022: Sinema Votes Against Changing Senate Filibuster Rule, Faces Censure
In January 2022, Sinema and fellow Democratic Senator Joe Manchin voted against a proposed change to the Senate filibuster rule, which aimed to enable certain voting rights bills to bypass the 60-vote threshold. The proposed rule change was defeated by a 52-48 margin. As a result of her vote, the Arizona Democratic Party executive committee censured Sinema for her support of the existing filibuster rule.
January 22, 2022: Arizona Democratic Party Censures Sinema
On January 22, 2022, the Arizona Democratic Party executive board voted to censure Sinema for voting to maintain the filibuster, which prevented passage of a voting rights bill.
February 24, 2022: Meeting with Climate Activists
Sinema met with Arizona climate activists who were pressuring her to abolish the filibuster on February 24, 2022. The meeting was ultimately unsuccessful.
June 2022: Sinema Responds to Overturning of Roe v. Wade
After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Sinema expressed concern that the decision "endangers the health and well-being of women in Arizona and across America."
July 2022: Sinema's Voting Record Aligns with Biden's Position
By July 2022, FiveThirtyEight reported that Sinema had voted with President Biden's position on legislative issues 94% of the time.
December 2022: Sinema Champions Respect for Marriage Act
In December 2022, Kyrsten Sinema served as a leading cosponsor and negotiator for the Respect for Marriage Act, which successfully passed the Senate with a vote of 61-36.
December 2022: Sinema Leaves Democratic Party
In December 2022, Sinema announced she had left the Democratic Party and registered as an Independent, though she continued to caucus with the Democrats for committee assignments.
December 2022: Sinema Changes Party Affiliation to Independent
In December 2022, Sinema changed her party registration to Independent.
December 2022: Sinema becomes an Independent
In December 2022, Sinema left the Democratic party and became an Independent.
2022: Changes to Inflation Reduction Act after negotiations with Sinema
In 2022, provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act were altered following negotiations with Kyrsten Sinema. These changes included dropping a provision narrowing the carried interest loophole, adding a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and adding manufacturing exceptions to the corporate minimum tax.
2022: Sinema Attends Bilderberg Conference
In 2022, Sinema was the only U.S. elected official to attend the Bilderberg Conference, a private gathering of the European and North American political and business elite.
2022: Sinema votes for the Inflation Reduction Act
In 2022, Kyrsten Sinema voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant piece of climate and energy legislation designed to invest in renewable energy and allocate billions of dollars for drought relief.
2023: Sinema Negotiates Border Crisis Bill
In 2023, Sinema negotiated a bill to address the Mexico–United States border crisis but it ultimately failed due to Republican defections.
March 5, 2024: Sinema Announces Retirement from Congress
On March 5, 2024, Sinema announced her retirement from Congress, stating that her approach to fostering compromise seemed to be "a model of the past."
2024: Sinema announces she will not seek reelection
Sinema announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024.