AOC Would Back Sinema Primary Opponent: ‘Easiest Decision I Would Ever Have to Make’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan on Wednesday night to discuss a range of issues including President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda, which has in part been hampered by Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
Hasan, who was guest hosting the 11th Hour, asked AOC, “Do you agree with Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that now may be the time for Senator Kyrsten Sinema who blocked voting rights in passing last week, to face a primary challenge in Arizona come 2024?”
“Well, Mehdi, as you mentioned that race is in 2024 and that means Kyrsten Sinema is about four years into her six-year term,” AOC responded, “I don’t believe she is really given a compelling case as to why she should be re-nominated as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in Arizona.”
The New York congresswoman continued:
She has proven herself an obstacle to the right to vote in the United States, she’s not an ally on civil rights, it is becoming a precipice and rather contributing to the threat that we have in stabilizing our democracy. She is not standing up to corporate interests, in fact. She is a profound ally to them. And I believe that you know, she is not doing what voters in Arizona sent her to do.
Hasan interjected, asking, “If a Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) challenged her in a primary or someone else, you would potentially consider supporting a primary challenger?”
“If it came down to someone like Ruben Gallego and Kyrsten Sinema, I think that would be the easiest decision I would ever have to make. There is no comparison,” AOC quickly responded with a laugh.
“This is a state that deserves to be represented by a strong Democrat that is allied with working families, and understands that we need to protect the rights of the marginalized. That understands that now is not a moment to stick up for corporations but rather stand up for working people,” she concluded. “We need someone who has more allegiance to the actual people of this country than special interests.”
Watch the full clip above via MSNBC
