US Senator Kyrsten Sinema says she will leave Democratic Party

Key Facts

But she emphasised that she will not sit with Republicans and said she would instead serve as an independent member in the chamber.
"Registering as an independent and showing up to work with the title independent is a reflection of who I've always been, and it's a reflection of who Arizona is," she said in a Twitter video.
"We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
While the White House statement described her as a "key partner" in many of President Joe Biden's legislative successes, Senator Sinema has long been willing to vote against the party line on a variety of issues, and some of her actions have angered local party officials in Arizona.