Kyrsten Sinema Says She Will Leave the Democratic Party To Become Independent.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced on Friday that she would leave the Democratic Party and become an independent.

“I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington,” she wrote

Ms. Sinema, who was already facing a likely Democratic re-election challenge in 2024.

They need to maintain some ties with Democrats to keep her committee seats and other benefits.

She informed Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and majority leader, of her plans on Thursday

According to a Senate Democratic aide who described the private conversation on the condition of anonymity

The aide said that Ms. Sinema would keep her committee positions through Democrats.

The party would still hold a one-seat edge on the panels next year, giving them new flexibility over nominations and legislation.

Still, her decision will no doubt ruffle Democrats who on Wednesday were exuberant about securing a 51st seat in the Senate.

Ms. Sinema’s switch is likely to provide new complications for Mr. Schumer and Democrats going forward

She wrote: becoming an independent won’t change my work in the Senate; my service to Arizona remains the same.