Southwest
Sen Kyrsten Sinema announces she will not seek reelection
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced on Super Tuesday that she will not seek reelection when her first term ends next year.
The move from Sinema, an Arizonian who switched her party affiliation from Democrat to independent in 2022, leaves the race narrowed between Republican candidate Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego.
“Our democracy was weakened by government dysfunction and the constant pull to the extremes by both political parties,” Sinema said in a video announcement posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “I promised I would do my best to fix it.”
She added, “The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic – attacking your opponents on cable news or social media. Compromise is a dirty word. We’ve arrived at that crossroad, and we chose anger and division. I believe in my approach. But it’s not what America wants right now.”
GOP, DEMS TEAM UP TO RIP ‘DELUSIONAL’ SINEMA OVER ‘PLAN’ TO SWIPE THEIR VOTERS IN INDEPENDENT REELECTION BID
Sinema announces she will not seek reelection. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“With recent polling showing Kyrsten Sinema pulling far more Republican voters than Democrat voters, her decision to retire improves Kari Lake’s opportunity to flip this seat,” he said.
Her colleagues across the political spectrum thanked Sinema for her work in the Senate.
“She’s worked really hard. And we got a lot of really important legislation done because of her hard work and tenacity,” Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told Fox News Digital. He called her choice not to seek reelection a “big loss.”
“The Senate will greatly miss Senator Sinema’s strong bipartisan leadership,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said of the Democrat-turned-independent with whom he collaborated on several bills.
Sinema registered as an independent in 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also honored her “tenacity” and praised her for key legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act, but he noted in a statement, “Ruben Gallego will bring the Arizona values and dedication to service he’s practiced throughout his life to the Senate,” referencing the Democrat representative vying for Sinema’s Senate seat.
“We are fully behind his candidacy and look forward to winning this race with him in 2024 and defeating Kari Lake,” he added.
WHERE THE 2024 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RACE STANDS
In a post to X, written in Spanish, Gallego said, “I want to thank @SenatorSinema for serving our state for almost two decades.”
He then pivoted to the general election in his statement, saying, “Arizona, we are at a decisive moment.”
“It is time for Democrats, independents and Republicans to come together and reject Kari Lake and her dangerous positions. For Arizona,” he continued.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Steve Daines, R-Mont., weighed in on Sinema’s decision, saying an open Senate seat “creates a unique opportunity for Republicans to build a lasting Senate majority this November.”
In November, the NRSC launched attacks against Sinema, accusing her of voting “with President Biden’s agenda 100% of the time” in a campaign ad.
The 30-second ad video came as early internal NRSC polling showed Sinema was drawing support from more Republican voters than Democrat voters, according to a source familiar with NRSC strategy at the time.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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