Kyrsten Sinema announces she'll depart Senate at end of year

Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has announced that she will depart from the Senate at the end of the year.

"The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic. Attacking your opponents on cable news or social media. Compromise is a dirty word," Sinema said in a video. She said that her approach is "not what America wants right now."

"Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together," Sinema said, "I will leave the Senate at the end of this year."

Sinema has served in the Senate since 2019. She won election in 2018 as a Democrat but switched to independent in 2022.

"In a natural extension of my service since I was first elected to Congress, I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington and formally registering as an Arizona Independent," Sinema tweeted in 2022.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kari Lake for the Senate seat last year, well ahead of the Republican primary for the Senate seat which will take place later this year.

"As a Journalist, I covered Kyrsten Sinema for many years. We may not agree on everything, but I know she shares my love for Arizona," Lake said in a tweet on Tuesday. "Senator Sinema had the courage to stand tall against the Far-Left in defense of the filibuster—despite the overwhelming pressure from the radicals in her party like Ruben Gallego who called on her to burn it all down."

Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is also aiming to win the Senate seat.

"I want to thank @SenatorSinema for her nearly two decades of service to our state," Gallego said in a tweet. "It's time Democrats, Independents, and Republicans come together and reject Kari Lake and her dangerous positions."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!