Kyrsten Sinema to leave Senate citing dismay with government 'dysfunction'

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) announced Tuesday that she is abandoning her hopes for reelection and will step down at the end of the year.

In a message posted to X, Sinema suggested partisan politics were to blame.

"Our democracy was weakened by government dysfunction and the constant pull to the extremes by both political parties," she said. "Yet, despite modernizing our infrastructure, ensuring clean water, delivering good jobs in safer communities, Americans still choose to retreat farther to their partisan corners."

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"I believe in my approach, but it's not what America wants right now," she continued.

"Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year."

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Before concluding, Sinema touted her work with Republican senators.

"These solutions matter," she insisted. "They make an impact in the lives of everyday Americans, and this is how government should work. It's been an honor to serve Arizona for the past 20 years."

Sinema, a first-term senator, left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent.

Her departure leaves a battle for the Senate seat which will likely pit Republican Kari Lake against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D).

Watch the video below.