The big news last week is the announcement by Arizona US Senator Kyrsten Sinema that she is leaving the Democrat Party. The question is; how is this move going to affect Arizona’s representation in the US Senate?

The whole idea of what a US Senator’s role is changed direction in 1913 when the 17^th Amendment was ratified. Up until then, US Senators were chosen by the state legislatures. The 17^th Amendment changed that with direct election to the US Senate by the people in each state.

Our Founding Fathers believed that it was Congress job to give the people in each congressional district representation at the federal level. The Senate was designed to represent the interests of each state. Even in the congress, party line votes commonly occur, ignoring the interests of the people they represent.

We see senatorial voting patterns today reflect party line votes, rather than how those policies affect the state each senator represents. We wouldn’t have seen as many party line votes in the senate if our US Senators cared more about their individual states, rather than political party power.

Senator Sinema, voting to keep the filibuster in the Senate, was a courageous move that truly represents the interest of the State of Arizona. Without it, we would have seen the Supreme Court packed, Washington DC become a state, national dictated elections and who knows what else.

Now free from the heavy thumb of her party, will she vote to secure the border, defund 87,000 new IRS agents and fund 18,000 new Border Patrol agents? Will she vote to stop the unbridled spending that has caused hyper inflation? These are some of the policies I am optimistic we can gain Senator Sinema’s support for. I’m not so optimistic that she will change her stance on abortion, religious liberty, Title IX sports,, including transgender athletes, and a slew of other social issues.  

To help Senator Sinema govern as the State of Arizona’s advocate in the US Senate, first we must pray for her. Then, I urge you let her know where you stand on issues and policies. She has opened the door for us to encourage her where we can. We can contact her at: 3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200. Phoenix, Arizona 85018. Phone: 602-598-7327.