Kyrsten Sinema is running for Congress in Arizona’s newly created 9th Congressional District. The Democratic primary will be held on August 24th.
Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2010, Sinema served for six years in the State House of Representatives. In state government, Sinema has earned a reputation for working across party lines to promote equal rights and economic opportunity. In 2006, she was a led the nation’s first successful effort to defeat a state ballot initiative banning same sex marriage.
Outside of state government, Sinema has been a leader in Arizona’s anti-war movement. In the days after the 9/11 attacks, Sinema helped to organize Arizona progressives who were alarmed by widespread calls for invasion. Sinema was at the forefront of Arizona’s grassroots opposition to the war in Iraq.
Sinema’s principled opposition to war extends to the movement for a world free of nuclear weapons. As an Arizona state legislator she actively lobbied Senators John McCain (R) and John Kyl (R) for ratification of the New START nuclear reductions treaty. She supports ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Testing Ban and opposes the development of new nuclear weapons. She supports full funding for programs that keep dangerous nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists and advocates taking the U.S. nuclear arsenal off hair trigger alert.
Sinema is also a strong advocate for international human rights. She recently completed a doctoral dissertation on the Rwandan genocide and is deeply concerned about finding ways to avoid such atrocities in the future.
While Sinema is idealistic in her goals, she is pragmatic in her approach to social change:
“Too many people on both the left and the right are still using old-school divide-and-conquer tactics. They’re slinging mud, scheming and using fear tactics. It’s no surprise that these strategies play a large hand in the fact that people are so frustrated and disheartened with politics. The sad thing is that these tactics go against every ideal that leads to progress: inclusion, reason, justice and hope. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, but that’s where I come in. As a reformed “stomp my feet in my office and alienate those with opposing views” type of politician, I understand that change isn’t always easy and that, like building successful coalitions, it can take blood, sweat and tears.”
Sinema is now in a three way race for the Democratic nomination in this battleground district. While the other candidates would also be strong nominees, none share Sinema’s impressive record on national security issues. The race for the Republican nomination is crowded, but whichever nominee emerges will receive strong support from national conservative groups in a district that President Obama would have won by only one point.
You can help Kyrsten Sinema bring her dedicated activism to Washington, DC.
Mailing paid for by Council for a Livable World Candidate Fund and authorized by Kyrsten Sinema for Congress.
