Sinema Stresses Bipartisanship, Decries Radical Politics in Rare Public Appearance

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) during a rare public appearance on Sept. 26 lectured on the importance of bipartisanship and decried efforts to elevate “radical” politics through attacks on the Senate.

Sinema, traditionally tight-lipped about politics, delivered remarks during a lecture at the University of Louisville’s McConnell Center. Sinema was invited to the event by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“In today’s partisan Washington, it might shock someone that a Democratic Senator would consider the Republican leader of the Senate, her friend,” Sinema said in opening, thanking McConnell for the invitation to the discussion of bipartisanship, before turning to the thrust of her lecture.

“Back home in Arizona, we don’t view life through a partisan lens,” said the senior senator from Arizona who replaced the late John McCain after his 2018 death. “Arizonans understand that while we may not agree on every issue, we do share the same values. We value grit, perseverance, and cooperation. Arizonans expect their political leaders to work together regardless of party politics, to make progress and then move out of the way so that everyday people can build better lives for themselves and for their families.”

This nonpartisan view, Sinema opined, is far more reflective of the general American spirit than the sensationalistic media would suggest.

“Americans from communities across our country are far more united than today’s politics would lead us to believe,” Sinema said. “From my experience, everyday Americans don’t immediately retreat to their partisan corners in their day to day lives.

“In fact, most of us believe that those partisan labels needlessly divide us. Most Americans understand that we’re all working towards the same goal: to create progress, build more positive communities, work hard, and achieve the American dreams.”

“More and more, it seems like Americans are being told that, in order to be