Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) for Senate?

[Confused Democrat]

I think she has potential.

She polls pretty well against Flake, and I think Democrats are interested in taking this seat in 2018.

What do you all think?

[Sven]

I maintain that our best option would be to run Mark Kelly. He's an immensely visible figure, he has state sympathy, and he has the same sort of "True American Hero" image as John Glenn.

Sinema is young enough that we can save running her for when McCain finally retires/resigns/pops off of old age.

[Confused Democrat]

I maintain that our best option would be to run Mark Kelly. He's an immensely visible figure, he has state sympathy, and he has the same sort of "True American Hero" image as John Glenn.

Sinema is young enough that we can save running her for when McCain finally retires/resigns/pops off of old age.

Is he even interested in running?

I don't think he is.

[Sven]

I maintain that our best option would be to run Mark Kelly. He's an immensely visible figure, he has state sympathy, and he has the same sort of "True American Hero" image as John Glenn.

Sinema is young enough that we can save running her for when McCain finally retires/resigns/pops off of old age.

Is he even interested in running?

I don't think he is.

That's the catch, to be fair. But if we can run him, we should.

Otherwise, I'm with you on Sinema. By the time McCain is out, Gallego or O'Halleran might be viable options.

EDIT: Man, I had no idea O'Halleran was so old. Never mind that.

[publicunofficial]

Her voting record definiately looks like someone intending to run statewide. She's likely to play it smart and run at the most oppurtune moment.

[BuckeyeNut]

I love Sinema, but I wonder if Arizona is really ready for a bisexual atheist.

[Vega]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

[Confused Democrat]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Really? She doesn't strike me that way.

The only things that I can think of that could possibly hurt her is her bisexuality and her irreligiousness.  

[justfollowingtheelections]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Really? She doesn't strike me that way.

The only things that I can think of that could possibly hurt her is her bisexuality and her irreligiousness.  

I don't think Arizona cares about those things to be honest. She will be win if she runs against a weak candidate.

[Heisenberg]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Really? She doesn't strike me that way.

The only things that I can think of that could possibly hurt her is her bisexuality and her irreligiousness.  

Look up her pre-2013 voting record and statements (she once called herself a Prada Socialist, for example). I think she moved to the center because her district was once competitive, before darting to the left last year. She also voted against Pelosi for Speaker from the left last month. I think she's overrated.

[publicunofficial]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Really? She doesn't strike me that way.

The only things that I can think of that could possibly hurt her is her bisexuality and her irreligiousness.  

Look up her pre-2013 voting record and statements (she once called herself a Prada Socialist, for example). I think she moved to the center because her district was once competitive, before darting to the left last year. She also voted against Pelosi for Speaker from the left last month. I think she's overrated.

I don't know what you're talking about with her moving to the left this term. Last I checked, she was one of the few D reps not to sign on to the Muslim Ban repeal bill.

[publicunofficial]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

[Stranger in a strange land]

I love Sinema, but I wonder if Arizona is really ready for a bisexual atheist.

There is no stigma against feminine bisexual women in current year America (Okay fine maybe in a place like Oklahoma or Mississippi there would be, but not in Arizona).

[The Arizonan]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

I think that is the real question. Is Arizona, a deep red state, going to send a Democrat to the Senate and is she "too liberal" for the state?

[justfollowingtheelections]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

I think that is the real question. Is Arizona, a deep red state, going to send a Democrat to the Senate and is she "too liberal" for the state?

She's not too liberal.  Arizona is a red state, but that has more to do with immigration issues and taxes, not social issues (correct me if I'm wrong).  Sinema is a good fit for the state, but unless the demographics have changed so much (which is a possibility given what we saw in the presidential election) a "normal" Republican would have the advantage over a "normal" Democrat. 

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

[Confused Democrat]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Why?

[Heisenberg]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

I think that is the real question. Is Arizona, a deep red state, going to send a Democrat to the Senate and is she "too liberal" for the state?

She's not too liberal.  Arizona is a red state, but that has more to do with immigration issues and taxes, not social issues (correct me if I'm wrong).  Sinema is a good fit for the state, but unless the demographics have changed so much (which is a possibility given what we saw in the presidential election) a "normal" Republican would have the advantage over a "normal" Democrat. 

Arizona is probably a big pro-2nd Amendment state, and Sinema is anti-gun. She also supports the ACA, which probably isn't popular in the state. It's true that social issues aren't that big (see Jim Kolbe, for example, and today, Michele Reagan, who not only is pro-choice, but seems to embrace that and takes money from pro-choice groups).

[Figueira]

She strikes me as having a closet full of skeletons that would be exposed in a statewide, important race.

Why?

She just strikes them as that!

I think she would be a decent candidate, even though she wouldn't be my ideal Senator.

[SATW]

I'd possibly back her over Jeff Flake in a general, if Flake continues to be an asshat on foreign policy.

She's pro-Israel, pretty centrist and voted against the Iran Deal. Also, wouldn't lie...a bisexual senator would be cool. Interestingly, she was accused, in 2012, of being weak on the issue but since she's been in D.C. she has been a stalwart for Israel.

I'd back any other GOP nominee (except Kelli Ward) over Sinema, though.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I'm very sceptical of the idea Arizona would swing in a midterm, unless fundamentals are awful for the GOP. In some states, the midterm factor matters less, but Arizona with its large population of ultra-rightist retirees and a Democratic coalition that relies hugely on Hispanics, Natives and transients is not one of them. Maybe, I guess, if Flake does attract a third party opponent this will fall; but I still consider this Likely R (in incumbent R conditions).

[Drew]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

I think that is the real question. Is Arizona, a deep red state, going to send a Democrat to the Senate and is she "too liberal" for the state?

She's not too liberal.  Arizona is a red state, but that has more to do with immigration issues and taxes, not social issues (correct me if I'm wrong).  Sinema is a good fit for the state, but unless the demographics have changed so much (which is a possibility given what we saw in the presidential election) a "normal" Republican would have the advantage over a "normal" Democrat. 

There was that "religious freedom" bill a few years ago that very nearly became law.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

As far as the bisexual atheist thing: I don't think anyone really cares about a candidate's sexuality any more outside of say, Arkansas. And she's always been careful to avoid the "atheist" label, she tends to call herself "spiritual" and say she doesn't like labels.

The "Prada Socialist" stuff was largely written off as "I was more radical in college but I've mellowed out since". Similar to Chris Coons and his bearded Marxist comment.

Bright, young, moderate voting record, charismatic, inspiring personal back story. I think the only question is how strong her opponent is, and is Arizona willing to put a Democrat in the Senate.

I think that is the real question. Is Arizona, a deep red state, going to send a Democrat to the Senate and is she "too liberal" for the state?

She's not too liberal.  Arizona is a red state, but that has more to do with immigration issues and taxes, not social issues (correct me if I'm wrong).  Sinema is a good fit for the state, but unless the demographics have changed so much (which is a possibility given what we saw in the presidential election) a "normal" Republican would have the advantage over a "normal" Democrat. 

There was that "religious freedom" bill a few years ago that very nearly became law.

Our local republican party is pretty out there. The only people paying enough attention to the state legislature are the crazy retirees who love this stuff.

[The Arizonan]

Arizona has been electing old WASPy guys to the Senate for over a century and I wonder if that trend is going to continue.

[patzer]

This thread is rather entertaining in hindsight.