Jan 18, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Emily's List pulls endorsement of Sinema over filibuster stance

Shawna Chen

Photo of Kyrsten Sinema sitting in front of a mic with pursed lips — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema speaks at a Senate Committee on Finance hearing on Oct. 19, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Photo: Rod Lamkey/Pool via Getty Images

Emily's List, a national PAC that backs pro-choice Democratic women in politics, said Tuesday it will no longer endorse Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) due to her opposition to changing the filibuster for voting rights legislation.

Why it matters: Sinema's refusal to support rule changes means that Democrats' voting rights bills face an uphill battle in the Senate. Emily's List is the latest to speak out against Sinema, who has faced backlash from her colleagues as well as Senate Democratic candidates.

What they're saying: "Electing Democratic pro-choice women is not possible without free and fair elections," President Laphonza Butler said in a statement. "Protecting the right to choose is not possible without access to the ballot box."

"Sen. Sinema’s decision to reject the voices of allies, partners and constituents who believe the importance of voting rights outweighs that of an arcane process means she will find herself standing alone in the next election," Butler added.
"So, we want to make it clear: If Sen. Sinema cannot support a path forward for the passage of this legislation, we believe she undermines the foundations of our democracy, her own path to victory and also the mission of EMILY’s List, and we will be unable to endorse her moving forward."

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Emily's List pulls endorsement of Sinema over filibuster stance

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