The defection of a senator tarnishes the success of the Democrats

The math doesn't always add up.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
09 December 2022 Friday 22:30
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The defection of a senator tarnishes the success of the Democrats

The math doesn't always add up. Within hours of the Rev. Raphael Warnock's victory for a Senate seat in Georgia on Tuesday, Chuck Schumer, the House's Democratic Majority Leader, came out elated: "51 is better than 49." The United States Senate has 100 seats.

If asked this Friday, Schumer would have serious doubts to answer. Warnock's resounding victory was marred by what is already called “Kyrsten Sinema's independence day”.

The rebellious senator from Arizona, who has already given President Joe Biden a few headaches when it comes to moving the legislature forward, caused an earthquake in US politics, which may imply a change in the configuration of the forces in the chamber , by announcing that he is leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent, without making it very clear what role he will play or the consequences.

“In a natural extension of my service since being elected to Congress, I have joined the growing number of Arizonans rejecting partisan politics by declaring my independence and formally registering as an independent,” she tweeted.

In his argument, expressed on social networks and in some media, he pointed out that he has lost faith in the parties, that he prefers "common-sense solutions rather than the doctrine of political parties."

Sinema communicated her decision to Schumer on Thursday, before unleashing this new storm. Democrats will retain the majority, with Vice Speaker Kamala Harris and her casting vote serving as Speaker of the House. But there are always uncertainties "I don't anticipate that anything will change in the structure of the Senate," Sinema said on CNN. “I'm going to keep doing the same job as always,” she insisted.

Congressman in his first term, Sinema has led notorious breaks in the Democratic ranks these two years. Although she explicitly did not confirm that she remains linked to the Democratic caucus (group), she did deny that she will join the Republicans, so that the conservatives will continue to be the minority in seats.

The balance of power will not change on the surface and Sinema, according to her aides, will continue to receive her allocations from Democratic caucuses. Bernie Sanders and August King are also listed as independents. “We understand that the decision to register as an independent for Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate and we have every reason to hope that we will continue to work with it,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary.

However, it was not lost on anyone that this again offers a starring role to Joe Manchin, the other wayward Democratic senator. If Warnock's victory turned off his light, his colleague's decision offers him a position of power again.

A Sinema, whose term ends in 2024, already had rivals from the left in his state.