Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) has announced her retirement at the end of 2024, setting the stage for a showdown between Republican candidate Kari Lake and Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for Arizona’s Senate seat.
Sinema’s decision, while significant, was not unexpected. She garnered only $595,000 in fundraising during the final quarter of 2023, a fraction of what Lake and Gallego raised. Despite this, Sinema still maintains a campaign account with nearly $11 million.
In a video announcement shared on X, Sinema expressed her concern about “the constant tug towards extremism from both political parties,” reiterating her commitment to pursuing bipartisan achievements.
A message for Arizonans from Senator Kyrsten Sinema pic.twitter.com/1XWFSWgGdh
— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) March 5, 2024
“Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year,” she said.
Sinema’s seat is a prime pickup opportunity for Republicans. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said in a statement:
An open seat in Arizona creates a unique opportunity for Republicans to build a lasting Senate majority this November. With recent polling showing Kyrsten Sinema pulling far more Republican voters than Democrat voters, her decision to retire improves Kari Lake’s opportunity to flip this seat.
Lake praised Sinema, emphasizing Gallego’s extreme partisanship at the expense of the interests of Arizona residents.
“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,” Lake said on X, continuing:
Ruben Gallego would be a radical departure from the representation we have had in Arizona. He votes with Joe Biden 100% of the time, supported the Iran Deal, sanctuary cities, defunding the police, and voting rights for everyone pouring across the border. He even called the border wall “stupid.”
Gallego gave lukewarm appreciation to Sinema before directing his criticism towards Lake.
“Arizona, we are at a crossroads,” Gallego posted to X. “Protecting abortion access, tackling housing affordability, securing our water supply, defending our democracy — all of this and more is on the line.”
With Democrats currently holding a 51 to 49 edge in the Senate, Senator Sinema, an Independent who aligns with Democrats, the outcome of the Arizona race could determine the balance of power for the next two years.
