Even after election, Sinema resisted backing Schumer for Senate leader
Nov 14, 2018, 2:45 PM | Updated: 9:01 pm
Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, center, who won Arizona's Senate race beating Republican Rep. Martha McSally, smiles as she is stopped by reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 201816. She is taking the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Flake. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
PHOENIX — Kyrsten Sinema gained attention on the campaign trail for saying that she would not vote Chuck Schumer to lead Senate Democrats and continued to resist fully supporting him on Wednesday, even after he was re-elected as Senate minority leader.
The senator-elect, in a statement to Politico, said she would have considered voting for someone other than Schumer — if he had a challenger.
“Had there been a challenger for minority leader, I would have considered new leadership and a fresh perspective,” Sinema said.
Sinema told the publication in July that she was “not going to vote for him.” She has also in the past opposed Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader.
Schumer and Sinema were also seen in a photo on the Senate leader’s Twitter: “Women of the West. Two new great women Democratic senators from the western part of the United States, Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona and Jacky Rosen from Nevada. So proud we’ll be working with them in January.”
Women of the West. Two new great women Democratic senators from the western part of the United States, Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona and Jacky Rosen from Nevada. So proud we’ll be working with them in January. pic.twitter.com/jx3heTQFde
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 13, 2018
Schumer was chosen as leader by acclamation, according to those familiar with the private caucus meetings. Democrats returned his entire leadership team, despite the failure to capture the majority in the midterms.
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Schumer portrayed Senate Democrats as emboldened, despite midterm losses, by an election he characterized as a rejection of the GOP tax cuts and Republican efforts to end the Affordable Care Act.
Even in the minority, Schumer said Senate Democrats will push for the party’s broader congressional agenda of lowering health care costs, investing in infrastructure and implementing good government reforms to put a check on the Trump administration, which he called “the most ethically challenged in history.”
“We will be relentless here in the Senate,” said Schumer, flanked by his leadership team. “Senate Democrats are committed to fighting to make those ideas a reality in this upcoming Congress.”
On Monday, six days after Election Day, Sinema was declared the winner of her race against Republican Martha McSally. She will be sworn into her position in January.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
