Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has questioned whether moderates still have a viable place within the Democratic Party, stating that the party leadership made it evident they did not want her affiliation. Sinema, who transitioned from Democrat to an independent, shared these views during a recent appearance on "My View with Lara Trump."
Sinema explained that her decision to leave the Democratic Party stemmed from its pursuit of "short-term gain" at the expense of "longer-term issues around democracy, like the filibuster." She asserted that the party "very much made it clear that they didn't really want me there." While she expressed personal happiness with the decision, she voiced uncertainty about the continued inclusion of moderate or fiscally conservative individuals.
"But I'm not sure that there's more room for others who are moderate or conservatives left there," Sinema said. "That's unfortunate because the majority of Americans actually live in that moderate or fiscally conservative middle."
Sinema, who initially served in the House and Senate as a Democrat before becoming an independent, also drew a contrast between the party she joined and the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). She described the DSA's principles as not reflecting the "historic Democratic Party."
"It's really rooted in tenets of socialism, which is not reflective of the historic Democratic Party," Sinema stated. "So it's hard to tell whether it's a hijacking or whether it is actually the movement of the voters' opinions."
She recalled entering Congress in 2012 as a "blue dog," a term she used to describe a coalition that was fiscally conservative and socially moderate. Sinema noted that there were more traditional liberal Democrats at that time, distinguishing them from the DSA movement.
Sinema suggested that primary elections often amplify the views of the more extreme factions within both parties, making it difficult to ascertain if the broader Democratic base aligns with the DSA's agenda. Her comments coincide with reported gains made by Democratic Socialists across the country.