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Kyrsten SinemaAmerican politician
Date of Birth: 12.07.1976
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Activism
Kyrsten Sinema was born in Tucson, Arizona, but her childhood was marked by her parents' divorce and her mother's remarriage. Together with her siblings, mother, and stepfather, Sinema relocated to Defuniak Springs, Florida. When her stepfather lost his job and their home was foreclosed, the family spent three years living in a converted gas station.
Despite these challenges, Sinema excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University in 1995. She subsequently left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became the first non-religious member of Congress. Sinema also holds Master of Social Work, Juris Doctor, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Entry into Politics
Sinema's political journey began as a non-partisan affiliated with the Green Party. She volunteered for Ralph Nader's Green Party presidential campaign in 2000. In 2002, she unsuccessfully ran for the Arizona House of Representatives as an independent candidate with Green Party support.
However, in 2004, Sinema successfully ran in the Democratic Party primary and was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where she served for four terms. She later won election to the Arizona Senate in 2010.
Election to the U.S. Congress
In 2012, Sinema announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's newly created 9th Congressional District. She narrowly defeated Republican Vernon Parker by a margin of 10,251 votes (4.1%).
During her time in Congress, Sinema shifted towards the political center, joining the conservative Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats. She was considered one of the most "bipartisan" members of the House, voting with her party 73% of the time. However, she also voted with Donald Trump on key issues, such as the Affordable Care Act and tax cuts.
Senatorial Victory
In 2018, Sinema became the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Jeff Flake. She faced off against Martha McSally, the first female U.S. Air Force combat pilot. The race was extremely close, and official results were not certified until November 12. Sinema ultimately won the election, becoming the first woman to represent Arizona in the Senate since 1976 and only the second openly LGBTQ senator.
Since taking office in 2019, Sinema has been a key figure in the Senate, serving on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. She remains known for her bipartisanship and her willingness to defy party lines.
