Kyrsten Sinema dampened Democratic Party celebrations after securing the Senate majority by becoming an independent. Sinema’s move seems to have further complicated her bid for re-election in 2024, as recent polls show that she’s massively unpopular among Arizona Democrats.
Once the dust settles, Democrats expect Sinema to support the party and President Biden’s legislative agenda. Sinema emphasized that she didn’t switch allegiances because she had a low chance of winning the party primary. “When I ran for the U.S. Senate, I pledged to be an independent and work with anyone to achieve lasting results.”
Sinema has kept a tight lid on her private life. Let’s look at her love life.
Sinema appears single and was married to a man named Blake Dain
Kyrsten Sinema is not married and seems single. Given the private nature of her love life, it’s difficult to know whether she’s in a relationship.
Sinema was married to Blake Dain from October 1995 to March 1999. During an interview with AZCentral, Kyrsten hinted that Dain was several years older than her. When pressed for more details, Sinema said: “I don’t think that’s any of your business. Not a lot of people ask young men in politics.”
Sinema has never hidden her bisexuality
Kyrsten told Elle that she has always been out to her family. She came out publicly in 2005 in response to a Republican colleague who disrespected the LGBTQ+ community. “We’re simply people like everyone else who want and deserve respect,” Sinema said.
After Sinema’s election, Neil Giuliano, the nation’s first directly elected, openly gay mayor, told AZCentral that Kyrsten’s election was a victory for the LGBTQ+ people:
“Here’s what we know about politics: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. So it’s very important that she is at the table as a voice that comes from the LGBTQ community, openly, honestly and proudly. I think that’s tremendous.”
Tammy Baldwin, the openly lesbian Senator from Wisconsin, congratulated Sinema, expressing happiness that she was no longer the only openly LGBTQ+ U.S. Senator. Sinema celebrated the enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects the right to marriage for the LGBTQ+ community. She tweeted:
“Thanks to our independent leadership, we brought folks from both sides together to respect religious freedoms and ensure same-sex married couples continue to have the same rights and protections afforded to all married couples.”