

Outgoing Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I., Ariz.) shrugged off her critics in an “exit interview” with Semafor on Friday, saying she doesn’t “give a sh**” about their disapproval.
Sinema is in the final days of her first and only term in the Senate, after she chose not to run for reelection as an independent, having won the seat as a Democrat.
The Arizona senator, who is no stranger to criticism, received her latest round of rebuke after she and fellow independent Senator Joe Manchin (W. Va.) blocked the renomination of Lauren McFerran to the National Labor Relations Board. The move will allow President-elect Donald Trump to nominate two members to the board, which would create Republican control.
“I know some people think I’m, like, this enigma or whatever, but I don’t think that’s true at all,” Sinema told Semafor. “I think, maybe, this is a place where sometimes people say things that they don’t mean. I am not one of those people … I think I’m highly predictable.”
Sinema registered as an independent in 2022. She explained at the time that she’s “never fit into any party box” and she didn’t want to.
“Removing myself from the partisan structure — not only is it true to who I am and how I operate, I also think it’ll provide a place of belonging for many folks across the state and the country who also are tired of the partisanship,” she said.
Sinema clashed with Democrats on a number of issues, including Biden’s plan to raise the corporate tax rate and the Left’s desire to undo the Senate filibuster.
But she told Semafor that at least one Democratic senator told her she was right to stand up for the filibuster.
“One person reached out to me after the election and apologized — and said I was right,” she said.
Sinema would not discuss who she voted for in the presidential election and told Semafor she’s “done with politics” and is “happier” as her time in the Senate draws to a close.
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, will take over Sinema’s seat next month after defeating Republican Kari Lake.