A new report from Phoenix New Times says that Kyrsten Sinema’s “campaign gravy train is raising questions” – and highlights Sinema’s pattern of taking money from corporate interests after major votes in their favor.
The story also references work by the Replace Sinema PAC, including the FEC complaint we filed against Sinema for illegally converting campaign funds for personal use, as well as requests by grassroots groups that ActBlue remove Sinema from its platform.
“Arizonans are sick of Sinema’s corruption and that’s why she’s polling in a distant third place,” said Sacha Haworth, spokesperson for Replace Sinema. “Ruben Gallego is the only credible candidate in this race who can beat Kari Lake and keep the seat for Democrats.”
Excerpts below:
Phoenix New Times: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema faces campaign cash questions, complaints
TJ L’Heureux | December 1, 2023
While Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona’s senatorial chameleon, decides if she’s running for re-election, her campaign gravy train is raising questions.
After she voted with Republicans on June 1 to kill President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan, the Arizona senator received at least $27,000 from political action committees related to loan providers, banks, debt collectors and for-profit education in the months after her vote, Phoenix New Times found. […]
Since Sinema switched parties to become an Independent, she’s seen a huge drop in donations from Democratic voters. They are largely donating to the Democratic candidate, Rep. Ruben Gallego. Sinema hasn’t made up the difference with Republicans and Independents.
Still, Sinema has continued to receive donations through ActBlue, the Democratic party’s online fundraising platform, even though she isn’t a Democrat anymore.
A group of 20 progressive organizations and 14 former and current lawmakers sent a letter to ActBlue on Nov. 13, calling for the platform to remove Sinema. […]
But while small-dollar donations have dried up, corporate donors haven’t soured on Sinema.
In 2023, she has been a top recipient of donations from the student loan, airline and credit union industries, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finances. Donations from private equity firms and hedge funds totaled at least $526,000 after Sinema made a backroom deal to keep an industry tax loophole alive in 2022.
How Sinema uses her campaign funds is also under fire. A May complaint with the FEC alleged that Sinema spent $180,000 of her campaign funds on luxury hotels, posh resorts, Michelin-star restaurants, international travel and winery visits. Her office also did not respond to questions about the complaint.
With less than a year until the election, Sinema still hasn’t announced whether she is officially running for a second term.
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