WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated on Friday that Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema will maintain her committee assignments despite leaving the Democratic Party.
Schumer (D-NY) stated in a statement, “Sen. Sinema informed me of her decision to shift her affiliation to Independent.” She requested that I maintain her committee responsibilities, and I agreed.
Formerly a Democrat, the now-independent senator is a member of the Banking Committee, Commerce Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
She also chairs the Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee and the Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation Subcommittee.
Despite the anger of many party members, Schumer’s remark underlined that Sinema’s defection was unlikely to damage the Democrats’ overall control of the Senate.
In accordance with a power-sharing agreement between Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), committee seats are currently split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, requiring Democrats to obtain Republican support in order to issue subpoenas or report President Biden’s nominees favorably to the full Senate.
Kyrsten has always been an independent individual. Schumer stated, “I think she is a fine and effective senator, and I look forward to a productive session in the new Democratic majority Senate.” We will preserve our new majority in committees, exercise our subpoena authority, and be able to clear candidates without the need for discharge votes.
Former Democrat Senator Krysten Sinema is changing her party allegiance to Independent.
According to a source familiar with Sinema’s routines, the freshman member was already renowned for her independent voice in the chamber and only irregularly attended weekly Democratic caucus meals before to her switch.
In an editorial announcing her party switch in The Arizona Republic, Sinema stated that throughout her past campaigns for the US House and Senate, she “promised to be independent and work with anyone to achieve enduring changes.”
She wrote, “Like many Arizonans, I have never fit neatly into either national party.” “Becoming an independent will have no effect on my job in the Senate; my dedication to Arizona will remain unchanged.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Sinema will retain her committee positions.
Christopher McDermott
Sinema has not stated whether she will continue to formally caucus with the Democrats, but she told Politico she will not caucus with Republicans, indicating she will vote similarly to how she has for the past four years.
“Neither my ideals nor my actions will alter,” she told the site, adding, “I do not foresee any changes to the Senate’s structure.”
“I expect to report to work and perform the same duties as usual. I simply aim to report to work alone.”
If Sinema follows through on her promise, Democrats will maintain a functional majority in the Senate, although it will not be as definitive as the 51-49 margin they had anticipated.
Nonetheless, other Republican politicians, such as Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), saw Sinema’s switch as a victory for the GOP, pointing out that she has joined former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in condemning the Democrats in recent months.
“It’s great to see @KyrstenSinema leave the Democrat Party,” tweeted Boebert on Friday. “Just this year, two prominent Democrats, @TulsiGabbard and Senator Sinema, switched parties. Wishing that many more would see the light!”
Gabbard declared in October that she was leaving the Democrats and registering as an independent, although she has been mostly accepted by the Republican Party and has campaigned for several of its midterm candidates.
Senator Sinema, who is serving her first term, is already recognized for her independence.
Sinema will not be the only independent to serve on committees in the chamber controlled by Democrats.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) leads the Senate Budget Committee and serves on the Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works, Veterans Affairs, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. Additionally, he is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security.
Angus King (I-Maine) serves on the Rules and Administration, Intelligence, Armed Services, and Energy and Natural Resources committees of the Senate. He also serves as the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks.
Sanders and King both caucus with the Democrats and are perceived to be more loyal to the party’s position than Sinema.