Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) openly refused to give his support or backing to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) when questioned this past weekend about her choice to depart from the Democratic Party late last year.
Kelly was questioned about Sinema as part of an interview this past Sunday alongside Jake Tapper which aired on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Tapper was quick to mention just how Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) had indicated that he think Sinema would need to be supported because she possessed an “independent spirit.”
“Do you agree with him?” questioned Tapper. “Or do you anticipate supporting whoever the Democratic nominee for that Senate seat would be?”
“Well, I’m not going to get ahead of Senator Sinema. She hasn’t made an announcement,” fired back Kelly. “What she has said is, she doesn’t want to be focused on politics right now. I have worked with her very closely over the last two years, I mean, really in a very positive way. She’s very effective in the United States Senate. We have got a lot done. And I look forward to doing that over the next months and the rest of this year.”
WATCH:
Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kelly says nice things about his "independent" fellow Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema — but won't say if he'll back her for re-election in 2024. pic.twitter.com/kSayDDpn4d
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 19, 2023
TRANSCRIPTION:
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Lastly, sir, your fellow Arizona Senator, independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, her term ends in 2024.
Your fellow Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said on the show that — quote — “I would think that she needs to be supported again, yes,” because of her — quote — “independent spirit” — unquote.
Do you agree with him? Or do you anticipate supporting whoever the Democratic nominee for that Senate seat would be?
SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): Well, I’m not going to get ahead of Senator Sinema. She hasn’t made an announcement.
What she has said is, she doesn’t want to be focused on politics right now. I have worked with her very closely over the last two years, I mean, really in a very positive way. She’s very effective in the United States Senate. We have got a lot done. And I look forward to doing that over the next months and the rest of this year.
