Kyrsten Sinema is already facing primary pressure in Arizona


If these Arizona Democrats have their way, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) could be out the door at the end of her first term.
Primary Sinema PAC, a new PAC "backed by a network of deep-pocketed donors," has begun "laying the groundwork" for a primary challenge to Sinema in 2024, reports NBC News. What's more, state activists have concurrently-but-separately launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a potential re-election challenger, should Sinema "not vote to end the filibuster or [continue] to obstruct [President Biden's] agenda," writes Salon.
The PAC does not have a particular primary candidate in mind; instead "it will fund local groups to pressure Sinema and help build the support and infrastructure for an eventual candidate," per NBC News. The crowdfunding campaign, meanwhile, is aiming for 1,000 pledges totaling $100,000 by Oct. 6, dollar amounts that will be collected only if Sinema does not vote to support President Biden's Build Back Better Act and vote to end or reform the filibuster by the end of 2021.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sinema has come under fire for resisting congressional Democrats' sweeping new spending package without effectively communicating what exact changes she'd need to support it. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a member of the House Progressive Caucus trying to move the reconciliation bill along, told MSNBC there is "no sense" of what Sinema wants.
"There is still time for Senator Sinema to change course," said Luis Avila, a veteran Arizona organizer supporting the Primary Sinema PAC. "But if she does not, there will be consequences for her betrayal of the people who elected her."
Added Karina Ruiz, an organizer of the crowdfunding campaign: "We can't continue to support a candidate that is not going to deliver for the people," per Salon. Read more at NBC News and Salon.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats