General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm an Arizona Dem who has known Sinema for decades. [View all]Metaphorical
(1,615 posts)Arizona went blue fairly convincingly, and Sinema has been writing love letters to the Republicans for a while now. What only surprises me is that she decided to go Independent. Again, I'd echo the sentiment here that she's looking for a post-Senate career at this stage as a lobbyist.
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that Lisa Murkowski may very well do the same thing (go Independent), but choose to caucus with the Democrats. Murkowski has frequently been a swing vote, and she has enough seniority at this stage that people in Alaska vote for her, not the letter. She'd not get away with wearing a D in Alaska, but I see here as being roughly in Angus King's situation.
As long as Sinema caucuses with the Dems, I don't see it really making much difference.