Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., reportedly used a high-profile appearance Monday to launch a blistering critique of former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., offering a pointed example of the internal divisions that continue to dog Democrats as they struggle to convince voters they can deliver on core promises.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Warren voiced skepticism that the Democratic Party will succeed in addressing what she described as an affordability crisis, arguing that past failures have left many Americans unconvinced. She said voters have reason to doubt whether Washington Democrats will act, pointing to the party’s inability to increase the federal minimum wage even when it controlled the levers of power.
Warren singled out Sinema by name, recalling a 2021 Senate vote in which the Arizona Democrat opposed a minimum wage increase that Warren said would have raised pay for millions of workers. Warren criticized Sinema’s conduct during that vote and accused her of spending much of her time in office defending the interests of hedge fund managers, particularly by opposing changes to tax policy and blocking reforms to the Senate filibuster.
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According to Warren, Sinema faced no serious pushback from Democratic leadership or the White House for those positions. Instead, Warren said, it was voters in Arizona who ultimately rejected Sinema, ending her Senate career. Warren framed that outcome as a form of accountability that Washington Democrats themselves failed to impose.
Warren then turned to Sinema’s post-Senate activities, accusing her of benefiting financially from the same industries she had defended while in office. She cited a recent Wall Street Journal report highlighting Sinema’s involvement with projects tied to cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and other wealthy corporate interests. Warren contrasted that with what she described as the ongoing struggles of working Americans, noting that the federal minimum wage has not increased in nearly two decades.
The remarks underscored lingering anger on the left over Sinema’s role in derailing major Democratic priorities during President Joe Biden’s term. Sinema drew sharp criticism from progressives for opposing efforts to close the carried interest loophole, a long-debated tax provision that benefits hedge fund managers, as well as for standing in the way of higher corporate taxes. Those positions made her a frequent target of activists and lawmakers pushing for a more aggressive progressive agenda.
Warren’s comments also reflected broader Democratic frustrations as party leaders continue to debate why promises made on the campaign trail have proven difficult to keep once in power. By highlighting Sinema as a cautionary tale, Warren sought to argue that internal resistance, rather than Republican opposition alone, has been a key obstacle to sweeping policy changes.
At the same time, the public airing of grievances illustrated the challenges Democrats face in presenting a united front to voters. As Warren made clear, the party’s inability to enforce discipline on its own members has had consequences, leaving some lawmakers now pointing fingers as Americans wait to see whether Democrats can follow through on their most basic commitments.
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