She is the Arizona Democrat running for Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat. She is central to Democratic hopes of retaking control of the Senate. She just vowed to oppose Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., just told Politico that, if elected, she is “not going to vote for him” to be party leader.
This is striking for at least two reasons that should make Schumer simultaneously angry and very, very worried.
Schumer has been with her since the beginning, according to FEC disclosures. His leadership PAC called Impact donated her campaign $10,000 back in September. Then Schumer signed his name to two emails from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee urging the party to rally to her defense.
He pinned his hopes of becoming majority leader on Sinema in the first March 31st email:
He endorsed her again in June 14:
That kind of cash and that kind of endorsement this early on are both hard to come by. After all, Sinema still has to win her primary this August. Of course, that isn’t likely because of the second reason: Sinema and Schumer both know he is becoming a liability.
Over in the House it has become popular for liberals to disdain their leadership. Democrats need to pick up 23 seats to take control, but eleven of their top-tier “red to blue” candidates are already in open revolt. Even Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., admitted last week that she was working to elect candidates who have promised to vote against her.
Now Schumer is starting to learn what Pelosi already knows: He represents the aging party establishment and that makes him more of a liability than a help. Sinema is ungrateful and Schumer is in danger.
