Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. is criticizing Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema after she announced her decision to leave the Democratic Party and register as an independent on Friday.
Sinema announced the decision in an Arizona Republic op-ed published on Friday, criticizing America’s two party system.
“Americans are told that we have only two choices – Democrat or Republican – and that we must subscribe wholesale to policy views the parties hold, views that have been pulled further and further toward the extremes,” Sinema wrote. “Most Arizonans believe this is a false choice, and when I ran for the U.S. House and the Senate, I promised Arizonans something different.”
In response, Ocasio-Cortez said that Sinema doesn’t offer “a single concrete value or policy she believes in.”
SINEMA’S EXIT FROM DEMOCRATS COULD COMPLICATE EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE SENATE
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference to discuss legislation that would strengthen Social Security benefits, on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, the House Committee on Ethics said it is investigating the congresswoman for an unspecified matter. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“She lays out no goals for Arizonans, no vision, no commitments,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s ‘no healthcare, just vibes’ for Senate.”
Ocasio-Cortez also said she’s “grateful this race & nomination has opened up.”
DEMOCRATS RE-ELECT SCHUMER AS LEADER AFTER EXPANDING SENATE MAJORITY TO 51
Then-Democratic candidate Kyrsten Sinema speaks to supporters after officially winning the U.S. Senate race at the Omni Montelucia resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S., November 12, 2018. (Reuters/Caitlin O’Hara)
Sinema is up for reelection in 2024.
“I pledged to be independent and work with anyone to achieve lasting results. I committed I would not demonize people I disagreed with, engage in name-calling, or get distracted by political drama,” Sinema said in the op-ed.
While Sinema is now an independent, she will keep her committee assignments, according to a statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“She asked me to keep her committee assignments, and I agreed,” said Schumer. “Kyrsten is independent, that’s how she’s always been.”
Fox News’ Haris Alic contributed to this report.