Kyrsten Sinema
Independent senior Senator of Arizona
Representative
Arizona, district 9
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
Arizona, district 9
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
Arizona, district 9
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Senator
Arizona
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2025
6
Congresses Served
3
House Terms
1
Senate Terms
January 1, 1976 (48 years old)
Birthday
- Former social worker turned politician
- Served as a state representative and state senator in Arizona before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and later the U.S. Senate
- Initially began her political career with the Arizona Green Party before joining the Democratic Party, and later became an independent
- Known for her progressive advocacy early in her career, particularly on LGBT rights and opposition to the war on terror
- Developed a reputation for bipartisanship and was part of several moderate and bipartisan groups in Congress
- First openly bisexual person and second openly LGBT woman elected to Congress
- First woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona and the only religiously unaffiliated member of the Senate at the time of her service
- Considered a key swing vote in the Senate during a period of 50–50 split between Democrats and Republicans
- Controversial figure among progressives, particularly for her stance on minimum wage legislation
- Announced she would not seek reelection in 2024
- Has a background in law and social work, with multiple degrees including a Ph.D. in justice studies
- Early life included significant hardship, living in poverty after her stepfather lost his job
- Has been involved in academia as an adjunct professor
- Criticized capitalism early in her career and was active in anti-war protests
- Played a significant role in health care reform discussions and supported veterans’ issues during her tenure in the Arizona State Legislature
- Shifted toward the political center during her time in Congress, joining conservative and bipartisan coalitions
- Voted in line with President Donald Trump’s position approximately 50% of the time during his presidency, according to FiveThirtyEight
- Supports abortion rights and has a history of advocating for LGBT rights and immigration reform
- Opposed to the death penalty and has taken moderate positions on economic issues, including opposition to certain financial regulations and support for federal stimulus spending
- Voted against the Green New Deal and has had mixed votes on gun control measures
- Known for her unique personal style, including wearing colorful wigs during the COVID-19 pandemic to emphasize the importance of social distancing