Kyrsten Sinema (independent) is a member of the U.S. Senate from Arizona. She assumed office on January 3, 2019. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Sinema (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Arizona. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
She defeated Martha McSally (R) and Angela Green (G) in the general election, becoming the first woman elected to a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona.
Sinema is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House representing Arizona's 9th Congressional District from 2013 to 2019.
Sinema began her political career in the Arizona House of Representatives. She represented District 15 from 2005 until her election to the Arizona State Senate in 2010. She resigned from the state Senate on January 3, 2012, in order to run for Congress.
Prior to running for office, Sinema was a local spokeswoman for the Green Party.
On December 9, 2022, Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party.
As of a 2014 analysis of multiple outside rankings, Sinema is a more moderate left of center Democratic Party vote. As a result, she may break with the Democratic Party line more than her fellow members.
After receiving her master of social work and J.D. from Arizona State University, Sinema worked as an adjunct professor and faculty member for the Center for Progressive Leadership. Her career in public service began in the Arizona State Legislature in 2005, where her advocacy included getting in-state tuition for veterans at all Arizona public universities, combating sex trafficking, and calling for improvements to children's healthcare.
