Sinema viewed unfavorably by one-third of Arizona Democrats in poll

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) is viewed unfavorably by nearly one-third of Democrats in the moderate’s home state, according to a new poll.

The OH Predictive Insights poll, conducted from Sept. 7 to Sept. 12, found that 30 percent of Arizona Democrats have a negative view of the first-term senator. She is viewed favorably by 56 percent.

Comparatively, her fellow Democratic senator from Arizona, Mark Kelly, who faces reelection in 2022, has support from nearly 4 in 5 of the party’s voters in the state, according to the poll. 

The survey also found that about 48 percent of Arizona Republicans view Sinema unfavorably, with 40 percent having a more favorable opinion.

While Sinema is not up for reelection until 2024, the latest poll reflects how Democrats in her home state have viewed her recent policy positions, including opposition to filibuster reform and voting against increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 earlier this year.

The poll was conducted ahead of Sinema’s involvement in the latest congressional battle as the White House and Democratic leaders attempt to pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a larger $3.5 trillion spending package through the budget reconciliation process.

Sinema has opposed the reconciliation bill but has not yet publicly indicated what she would specifically want changed to support it.

However, she and fellow moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) have both argued that the $3.5 trillion called for by President Biden and Democratic leaders is too high. 

Biden has met with Sinema multiple times in the last few weeks, and White House officials met with the Arizona senator as recently as Wednesday. 

Progressives in the House have threatened to vote against the Senate-passed infrastructure bill unless a deal is reached on passing the larger reconciliation package.

In order for the reconciliation bill to pass in the Senate in the face of opposition from all 50 Republicans, all 50 Democrats in the upper chamber will need to support it. 

Manchin on Wednesday specifically called out progressives for the price tag of the sweeping social spending package, calling trillions of dollars in spending “fiscal insanity.”

While Sinema has not been clear on any components of the bill she would specifically like changed, Manchin has argued for changes in the tax code and adding means testing to certain benefits. 

The poll released Thursday, which included 882 registered Arizona voters, reported a margin of error of roughly 3 percentage points.