AZ Dems Censure Kyrsten Sinema Over Filibuster Vote Even Though She Previously Voted in Lockstep With Biden

Democrats in Arizona have voted to issue a formal censure to U.S. Sen Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) after she voted against Joe Biden’s wishes to alter the filibuster in order to pass a so-called “voting rights” bill.

The decision to censure the freshman senator comes despite the fact that she had voted in lockstep with Biden on every other piece of legislation that had come before her.

It is unprecedented for a senator to receive such a rebuke for simply voting against the president one time in that manner.

During the Trump presidency, for example, U.S. Sen Mitt Romney (R-UT) only voted with the president 75% of the time and there were multiple times that he refused to toe the party line before he was finally censured.

In fact, thus far, only three senate Democrats have voted against Biden on more than two bills, and none more than three.

In a statement, the party announced, “While we take no pleasure in this announcement, the ADP Executive Board has decided to formally censure Senator Sinema as a result of her failure to do whatever it takes to ensure the health of our democracy.”

One supporter of the move declared in a reply to a tweet containing the statement, “It honestly shouldn’t be permissible for a representative to defy the will of the people she supposedly represents.”

It honestly shouldn't be permissible for a representative to defy the will of the people she supposedly represents.

— 🌊Cyndia BLUE "Unstable Genius" (@malinablue) January 22, 2022

ABC News 15 reported that the move has no practical consequences but serves as a symbolic condemnation for a woman who just three years ago brought the party an Arizona Senate seat for the first time in a generation.

The outlet also noted that several groups are already collecting money for an eventual primary challenge, even though she’s not on the ballot again until 2024.