Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he would be “surprised” if Republicans tried to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., when she comes up for reelection in 2024.
Sinema has frequently worked with Senate Republicans on bipartisan legislation and even serves as a go-between for Republicans and her Democratic colleagues, according to Politico. As a result, she enjoys a good relationship with much of the GOP.
When asked about his prediction on Wednesday, Cornyn clarified that Sinema could still face a GOP challenge come 2024.
“I probably got out over my skis a little bit,” he explained. “What I was thinking about was the fact that she enjoys pretty favorable ratings among Republicans in her state.
“Who knows what’s going to happen in 2024,” Cornyn added. “And what happens here in the Senate…one day you’re working with somebody the next day you’re trying to defeat them in the election.”
Cornyn says of his comments to @politico that he “would he surprised if Republicans tried to unseat (Sinema)” —>
“I probably got out over my skis a little bit…what I was thinking about was the fact that she enjoys pretty favorable ratings among Republicans in her state.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) November 17, 2021
Several Republicans, including Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., like Sinema so much that they’ve tried to convince her to switch parties and become a Republican, according to Politico.
However, Sinema rejected rumors that she was considering leaving the Democratic Party, arguing that disagreement among colleagues is “normal.”
“I’ve been concerned at the push that happens in both parties, this push to have no disagreements,” Sinema said. “To only have unity or to only speak with one voice. And some will say, ‘Oh, that is our strength.’
“Having some disagreement is normal,” she said. “It is real, it is human. And it’s an opportunity for us as mature beings to work through it.”
Leftists have vowed to try and unseat Sinema after she came out against President Joe Biden’s massive spending proposal, Build Back Better, along with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. Both Sinema and Manchin have argued the bill’s tax increases are a non-starter.
