Kyrsten Sinema

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Kyrsten Sinema
Rep Kyrsten Sinema, Official Portrait.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by New District
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 15th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 3, 2012
Preceded by Ken Cheuvront
Succeeded by David Lujan
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 15th district
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 10, 2011
Serving with David Lujan
Preceded by Wally Straughn, Ken Clark
Succeeded by Lela Alston, Katie Hobbs
Personal details
Born (1976-07-12) July 12, 1976 (age 36)
Tucson, Arizona
Political party Democratic
Residence Phoenix, Arizona
Alma mater Brigham Young University (B.A.)
Arizona State University (M.A., J.D., Ph.D.)
Profession Attorney
Religion None
Website Congressional website

Kyrsten Sinema (born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative from Arizona's 9th congressional district, first elected in 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, prior to being elected she served in both chambers of the Arizona legislature, being elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2005, and the Arizona Senate in 2011.

Known as a progressive, she has worked for the adoption of the DREAM Act, and has campaigned against Propositions 107 and 102, two voter referendums to ban the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona.

She is the first openly bisexual person elected to the U.S. Congress.

Contents

Early life, education, early career [edit]

Sinema was born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1976. She was raised in the Dobson Ranch area. As a child, Sinema's parents divorced. When her stepfather lost his job, the family lived for two years in an abandoned gas station with no running water or electricity.[1] Sinema was raised in a conservative Mormon family.[2] She graduated as high school valedictorian at age 16 and went on to earn her B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1995 at age 18.[1] Sinema received her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University in 1999. In 2004, she earned a J.D. from Arizona State University College of Law. In 2012, she earned a Ph.D. in Justice Studies, also from Arizona State.[1][3]

Sinema was a social worker from 1995 to 2002. She practiced law in the Washington Elementary School District before becoming a criminal defense lawyer in 2005.[1][4] Sinema has also been an adjunct instructor in the Arizona State University School of Social Work since 2003.[5]

Arizona legislature [edit]

Sinema walking up stairs and smiling to the camera
Sinema in 2009

Elections [edit]

Sinema first ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2002, as an independent affiliated with the Arizona Green Party.[6] She finished in fifth and last place, receiving 8% of the vote.[7]

In 2004, Sinema won the Democratic primary for Arizona's 15th District, where she won the highest margin of votes with 37%. David Lujan also won election with 34% (there are two seats in each District).[8] Sinema was subsequently re-elected three times with over 30% of the vote.[9][10][11] In 2009 and 2010, Sinema was an assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives.[12]

In 2010, Sinema was elected to the Arizona Senate, defeating Republican Bob Thomas 63–37%.[13]

Tenure [edit]

In 2005 and 2006, she was named the Sierra Club's Most Valuable Player. She also won the 2006 Planned Parenthood CHOICE Award, 2006 Legislator of the Year Award from both the Arizona Public Health Association and the National Association of Social Workers, 2006 Legislative Hero Award from the Arizona League of Conservation Voters, and the 2005 Stonewall Democrats' Legislator of the Year Award. In 2010, she was named one of Time Magazine's "40 Under 40".[14]

In 2006, Sinema sponsored a bill urging the adoption of the DREAM Act.[15] Also in 2006 she co-chaired Arizona Together, the statewide campaign that defeated Proposition 107 (which would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona).[16] Speaking to a now-defunct fashion/lifestyle magazine in 2006, Sinema was asked about "new feminism", and responded, "These women who act like staying at home, leeching off their husbands or boyfriends, and just cashing the checks (think that) is some sort of feminism because they're choosing to live that life." After dealing with criticism, Sinema said the remarks were intended to be a "light-hearted spoof" and apologized for them.[17]

In 2008, Sinema led the campaign against Proposition 102, another referendum which would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona. Proposition 102 was approved with 56% of the vote in the general election on November 4, 2008. Sinema chaired a coalition called Protect Arizona's Freedom, which defeated Ward Connerly's goal to place an initiative on the state ballot that would eliminate equal opportunity programs.[18]

In 2010, she sponsored a bill to give in-state tuition to veterans.[19] The Center for Inquiry presented Sinema its Award for the Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy in 2011.[20]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2012#District_9

In June 2011, Sinema said she was considering running for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. She lived in the same neighborhood as fellow Democrat Ed Pastor, but was adamant that she would not challenge another Democrat in a primary.[21] On January 3, 2012, Sinema announced her bid for Congress, in the 9th congressional district.[22] The district had previously been the 5th, represented by freshman Republican David Schweikert; it contains 60 percent of the old 5th's territory.[23] However, Schweikert had been drawn into the 6th District—the old 3rd District—and sought reelection there. Although not required to do so under Arizona's resign-to-run laws (since she was in the final year of her term), she resigned from the state senate on the same day.

On August 28, 2012, Sinema won the Democratic primary with 42% of the vote, defeating former Arizona Democratic Party chairman Andrei Cherny, a former speechwriter in the Clinton administration, and state Senator David Schapira.[1][24][25]

In the general election Sinema ran against Republican nominee Vernon Parker, the former Mayor of Paradise Valley.[1] Sinema was endorsed by the Arizona Republic.[1] The campaign was described as a "nasty",[26] "bitterly fought race that featured millions of dollars in attack ads".[27] Parker ran campaign ads that accused Sinema of being an "anti-American hippie" who practiced "Pagan rituals".[28] The Republican-aligned outside group American Future Fund spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on attack ads against Sinema.[29] When Sinema's religious views were raised as an issue, her campaign stated that she simply believes in a secular approach to government.[30]

The November 6 election was initially too close to call, because Arizona election authorities failed to count more than 25% of the votes on election day.[31] Sinema held a narrow lead over Parker, while provisional and absentee ballots were still being counted.[32][33] However, on November 12, when it was apparent that Sinema's lead was too large for Parker to overcome, the Associated Press called the race for Sinema.[34] Once all ballots were counted, Sinema won by 4.1 percentage points, or 10,000 votes.[35]

Committee assignments [edit]

Personal life [edit]

Sinema is the first openly bisexual member of the United States Congress.[36][37]

Electoral history [edit]

2010 [edit]

Arizona's 15th Senate District election, 2010[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kyrsten Sinema 18,012 48.72%
Republican Bob Thomas 10,663 37.18%
Turnout 28,675
Democratic hold Swing

2012 [edit]

Arizona's 9th congressional district election, 2012[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kyrsten Sinema 121,881 48.72%
Republican Vernon Parker 111,630 44.62%
Libertarian Powell E. Gammill 16,620 6.64%
Turnout 250,131
Democratic hold Swing

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona District 9. National Journal.
  2. ^ Fincke, Daniel (2012-01-07). "Openly Bisexual and Non-theist Woman (Who Rejected Parents' Mormonism) Runs For U.S. Congress". Patheos. Retrieved 2012-12-05. 
  3. ^ "Project Vote Smart: Rep. Kyrsten Sinema". Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  4. ^ "Rep. Kyrsten Sinema: biography". Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  5. ^ "ASU Directory Profile: Kyrsten Sinema". Webapp4.asu.edu. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  6. ^ Winger, Richard (November 13, 2012). "Kyrsten Sinema, Newly-Elected Arizona Congresswoman, Was Once a Green Party Nominee for Arizona Legislature". Ballot Access News. Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  7. ^ "Election Summary". Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  8. ^ "AZ State House 15 - D Primary Race - Sep 07, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  9. ^ "AZ State House 15 Race - Nov 02, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  10. ^ "AZ State House 15 Race - Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  11. ^ "AZ State House 15 Race - Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  12. ^ "Member Page". Azleg.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  13. ^ "AZ State Senate 15 Race - Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  14. ^ "40 Under 40". Time Magazine. 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
  15. ^ "Documents For Bill". Azleg.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  16. ^ "Straight couples pivotal in gay marriage fight". The Arizona Republic. 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  17. ^ Fischer, Howard (2006-10-27). "Gay marriage debate sparks a feminism battle". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2012-11-15. 
  18. ^ "Member Page". Azleg.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  19. ^ "Documents For Bill". Azleg.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  20. ^ "Sen. Sinema to Receive Award from CFI for Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy" (Press release). Center for Inquiry. March 9, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2012. 
  21. ^ Trygstad, Kyle (June 9, 2011). "Arizona State Senator Interested in House Bid". Roll Call. Retrieved October 4, 2011. 
  22. ^ Garcia, Michelle (January 4, 2012). "Bi Politician Announces Congressional Bid". The Advocate. Retrieved January 8, 2012. 
  23. ^ Arizona Redistricting: Commission releases draft map. Daily Kos, 2011-10-04
  24. ^ González, Daniel (Aug. 28, 2012). "Sinema, Parker win in Congressional District 9". Arizona Republic. 
  25. ^ "November 2012 Election Results". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08. 
  26. ^ Carrie Dann, [nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/04/15649841-ten-fresh-faces-to-watch-in-the-new-congress Ten fresh faces to watch in the new Congress, NBC News (December 4, 2012).
  27. ^ Jim Cross, Sinema beats Parker in Arizona's CD9 race, KTAR (November 12, 2012).
  28. ^ David Mendez, From Far, Far Out There in Phoenix: Vernon Parker Says Kyrsten Sinema Is A Pagan Hippie, Tucson Weekly (October 16, 2012); Matthew Hendley, Kyrsten Sinema Doesn't Like America, but Loves Flower Power, According to Vernon Parker Ad, Phoenix New Times (October 16, 2012).
  29. ^ Tim Vetscher, Fact Check: AFF's TV ad attacking Kyrsten Sinema, KNXV-TV (ABC 15) (September 24, 2012); Andrew Sullivan, Ad War Update: Obama Wants To Engulf Your Children In Flames (September 19, 2012)
  30. ^ Oppenheimer, Mark (November 9, 2012). "Politicians Who Reject Labels Based on Religion". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2012.  Moreover, Sinema's campaign stated, "terms non-theist, atheist or nonbeliever are not befitting of her life's work or personal character".
  31. ^ Reinhart, Mary K. (Aug. 28, 2012). "Ballot count goes on in Arizona". Arizona Republic. 
  32. ^ "Democrat Kyrsten Sinema beats GOP's Vernon Parker in Arizona's 9th Congressional District". The Washington Post, November 12, 2012.
  33. ^ "Kyrsten Sinema Election Results: Arizona Democrat Beats Vernon Parker In Congressional Race". Huffington Post, November 12, 2012.
  34. ^ "Kyrsten Sinema Becomes First Openly Bisexual Member of Congress". ABC News. Nov. 12, 2012. 
  35. ^ "General Election Results". Arizona Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved 24 November 2012. 
  36. ^ O'Dowd, Peter (January 1, 2013). "Sinema, First Openly Bisexual Member Of Congress, Represents 'Changing Arizona". NPR. Retrieved January 8, 2013. 
  37. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (January 2, 2013). "Kyrsten Sinema: A success story like nobody else's". The Washington Post (Phoenix, Arizona). Retrieved January 8, 2013. 
  38. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass". azsos.gov. November 29, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2013. 
  39. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass". azsos.gov. December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013. 

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from Arizona's 9th congressional district
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