CNN: ‘Grab your popcorn and watch’: Arizona’s messy Senate race begins to take shape
Eric Bradner and Kyung Lah // May 4, 2023
The most unpredictable Senate race on the 2024 map is unfolding in Arizona, where a high-profile Democrat is targeting Democratic-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Republicans are hoping to seize on those tensions in a state trending away from them.
But her broken ties with Democratic voters and groups that once backed her was on display Wednesday at what was billed as a “Sinema Sold Out” rally at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix.
Carrying a papier-mâché pig as a prop to describe what they called Sinema’s courting of rich donors, members of progressive groups representing labor, immigrants and veterans called on the former Democrat to resign. Nearly all of the groups had organized and canvassed voters in the Arizona heat to elect Sinema in 2018. None of the group members CNN spoke with said they would support her again.
“We’re going to work to elect a new senator who does a far better job of representing Arizona,” said Alex Alvarez, executive director of Progress Arizona. “It’s time for Kyrsten Sinema to step aside. It’s become clear that Arizonans do not want her to run again.”
[…]
Progressives have largely rallied behind US Rep. Ruben Gallego. The five-term Phoenix-area congressman and Iraq War veteran outraised Sinema, nearly $3.8 million to $2.1 million, in 2023’s first quarter that ended March 31, Federal Election Commission filings show. But Sinema still held a significant cash advantage, with about $10 million in the bank to her opponent’s $2.7 million.
Gallego has been sharply critical of the senator, casting her as beholden to lobbyists and business interests and arguing she has lost touch with Arizona since her 2-point victory over Republican Martha McSally in 2018.
“She broke trust with a lot of the people of Arizona. They don’t trust her values anymore, and she’s not trying to repair that relationship,” Gallego said in an interview.
Sinema’s office declined an interview request. “Kyrsten is focused on delivering real solutions, not campaign politics,” press secretary Pablo Sierra-Carmona said in a statement.
Earlier Coverage of Sinema’s Luxury Spending Scandal:
Arizona Republic: Group demands Sen. Kyrsten Sinema resign over reports of extravagant travel spending
CBS 5 / 3TV: VIDEO: Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign spending
CBS 5 / 3TV: VIDEO: Sinema mum on campaign spending, reelection plans
New York Post: Kyrsten Sinema spent more than $100K in campaign cash on jets, limos, luxury hotels and wine
Arizona Republic: Article rips Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for wildly extravagant spending
Newsmax: Report: Sen. Sinema Spent Over $100K on Luxury Items
The Advocate: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Spends Campaign Funds on High-End Wines, Food, Travel: Report
Palmer Report: Kyrsten Sinema has a whole new corruption scandal as her 2024 numbers bottom out
Boing Boing: Watch Kyrsten Sinema dodge questions about her lavish lifestyle
###