Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Says She Is No Longer a Democrat

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Friday revealed she’s changed her party affiliation from Democrat to independent, a blow for Democrats celebrating their recently secured clear Senate majority.

In an interview with Politico, Sinema indicated that she would continue to vote the same way she has over her previous four years in the Senate and said that she did not intend to caucus with Republicans. “Nothing will change about my values or my behavior,” she said.

Sinema would not confirm if she plans to run for re-election in 2024 and said she had informed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about her affiliation switch on Thursday.

“I don’t anticipate that anything will change about the Senate structure,” Sinema said, adding: “I intend to show up to work, do the same work that I always do. I just intend to show up to work as an independent.”