Arizona Sen. Sinema Votes Against Biden Judicial Nominee
In a notable break from her party, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona opposed the confirmation of a U.S. District Judge to a Colorado seat.
Alex Carter
- 2024-01-12
- Updated 08:29 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - Senator Kyrsten Sinema, known for her independent stance within the political spectrum, cast a dissenting vote against the confirmation of U.S. District Judge S. Kato Crews to the Colorado federal bench. On Wednesday, the Senate vote concluded with a narrow 51-48 in favor of Crews, marking this occasion as Sinema's first vote against one of President Biden's judicial nominations. Despite her vote, Judge Crews secured the seat, reflecting a divided Senate on judicial confirmations.
A History of Breaking Party Lines
Sinema has consistently demonstrated a willingness to vote independently of her party. Having declared herself as an independent after previously identifying as a Democrat, her voting record includes several instances of parting ways with Democratic consensus. In her first year serving as Senator after winning the seat in a race against Republican Martha McSally, she voted against her Democratic colleagues 27.5% of the time. Furthermore, Sinema was one of the Democrats who opposed the $15 minimum wage amendment included in the American Rescue Plan, reinforcing her pattern of autonomous decision-making within the Senate.
The 2024 Election Horizon
The Senator's future plans remain undisclosed as she has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election in 2024. However, the political landscape is shifting with Rep. Ruben Gallego announcing his Senate bid for the same year, securing endorsements from former Democratic organizations. Sen. Sinema's vote against Judge Crews potentially signifies more political realignments to come as candidates prepare for the upcoming elections.
Sinema's opposition reflects not only her independent approach to governance but also highlights the closeness of Senate votes on judicial nominees. With the 2024 Senate race already garnering attention, political alignments and voter preferences in Arizona are poised to be a focal point of discussion. An earlier version of this story about Sinema's victory made corrections to affirm that the 2018 race was for an open seat, rather than against an incumbent.
