White House Reacts to Sinema's Decision to Leave the Democratic Party

By Bradley Cortright December 9, 2022 at 10:40am

Senator Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ, departs from the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 28, 2021. - US President Joe Biden announced a "historic" framework Thursday for spending $3 trillion on America's social safety net and crumbling infrastructure, but his claim to be on the cusp of a major political victory had yet to get full backing from Democrats. Two conservative Democratic senators who have held up the social spending component, calling it too expensive, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, sounded positive but did not commit to supporting Biden's framework. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The White House believes it can “successfully” work with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) even with her decision to leave the Democratic Party.

In a statement Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Senator Sinema has been a key partner on some of the historic legislation President Biden has championed over the last 20 months.”

“We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her,” she added.

Check out the statement below:

“We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her.” pic.twitter.com/b4pv3eDHLq

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 9, 2022

In an op-ed published by The Arizona Republican, Sinema wrote, “Pressures in both parties pull leaders to the edges, allowing the loudest, most extreme voices to determine their respective parties’ priorities and expecting the rest of us to fall in line.”

“In catering to the fringes, neither party has demonstrated much tolerance for diversity of thought. Bipartisan compromise is seen as a rarely acceptable last resort, rather than the best way to achieve lasting progress,” she continued. “Payback against the opposition party has replaced thoughtful legislating.”

Early Friday, Sinema revealed her plans to leave the Democratic Party and become a registered independent, as IJR reported.

Her decision comes after Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) won the run-off election on Tuesday.

Do you think the White House will be able to work "successfully" with her?

Warnock’s win after the midterm elections means Democrats will have an expanded 51-49 seat majority.

During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the Arizona senator was asked if her decision will impact the balance of power in the Senate.

“I know you have to ask that question, Jake, but that’s kind of a D.C. thing to worry about,” Sinema responded.

Watch the video below:

Tapper: Is the balance of the power in the Senate still going to be 51-49?

Sinema: I know you have to ask that question, Jake, but that's kind of a DC thing to worry about pic.twitter.com/gEjipRZGIr

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 9, 2022

ABC News’ political director Rick Klein tweeted Sinema believes she can keep her committee assignments and may not have to caucus with Democrats or Republicans.

However, a senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration told NBC News that Sinema will continue to caucus with Democrats like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine).

“[We] don’t really think it changes much except her re-election path,” the official told NBC.

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