Outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema lost thousands on luxury travel experiences this summer as her term in Washington expires.
According to his latest campaign finance report, Sinema (I, Ariz.) spent about $216,000 on travel expenses, including trips to Japan and France, and another $152,000 on security in the third quarter of this year. .
Mr. Sinema’s campaign spent a total of $650,536 from July 1 to September 30, compared to other retired senators whose campaigns are listed as having spent $224,521. That far exceeds Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Ben Cardin, among others. (D-Md.), whose campaign spent $23,440.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is widely considered one of the most centrist voices in the Senate. CQ-Roll Call, Inc (via Getty Images)
Some of the costs of the cinema appear to correspond to previously known travel costs. For example, she spent at least $2,593 on security in late July and $1,625 on food in late August during a trip to Paris.
An avid runner, Sinema ran an amateur marathon along the Olympic course in August, finishing in 4 hours and 48 minutes.
Last month, the 48-year-old spent at least $2,856 on meals in Tokyo, including $1,262 on one meal at Nobu Tokyo.
According to Arizona-based Cronkite News, that same month she hiked Mt.
Astroscale, a Tokyo-based company aiming for “space sustainability,” suggested in a Facebook post that it hosted the cinema in early July, around the same time as campaign spending in Japan. .
Early in her career, Kyrsten Sinema was a staunch progressive. CQ-Roll Call, Inc (via Getty Images)
Other expenses listed are for domestic travel and lodging, including $840 listed for a West Hollywood, Calif., property in early July and $1,060 paid the same day for an Arizona hotel.
Cinema’s campaign ended in September with about $5 million in cash on hand.
In March, Sinema spoke out in Washington against pursuing a second Senate term, lamenting that “compromise is a dirty word.”
“We have reached a crossroads and have chosen anger and division,” she said at the time. “I believe in my approach, but that’s not what America wants right now.”
The Arizona senator expressed frustration that the politicians who make the most noise tend to be successful. Getty Images
Sinema began his tenure as a centrist Democrat who famously clashed with President Biden and others in the party who called for a costly iteration of so-called “Build Back Better” policies in 2022.
Ultimately, the Senate passed a watered-down version of Biden’s policy, renamed the Inflation Control Act.
After this ordeal, Sinema announced he would switch his membership to independent, but still caucuses with the Democratic Party.
If Sinema had fought for re-election, he would have faced a difficult three-way race between Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Republican Kari Lake.
She declined to publicly express support for the race.
Sinema’s Senate office and campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
