<p>Arizona Sen.&nbsp;<a class="person-popover__link" href="https://thehill.com/people/kyrsten-sinema/" _mce_href="https://thehill.com/people/kyrsten-sinema/">Kyrsten Sinema&nbsp;</a>has announced that she will leave the Democratic Party and officially register as an independent.</p> <p>“I’ve registered as an Arizona independent. I know some people might be a little bit surprised by this, but actually, I think it makes a lot of sense,” Sinema said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/09/politics/kyrsten-sinema-leaves-democratic-party/index.html" _mce_href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/09/politics/kyrsten-sinema-leaves-democratic-party/index.html">in an interview</a>&nbsp;Thursday with CNN’s Jake Tapper in her Senate office.</p> <p>“I’ve never fit neatly into any party box. I’ve never really tried. I don’t want to,” she added. “Removing myself from the partisan structure — not only is it true to who I am and how I operate, I also think it’ll provide a place of belonging for many folks across the state and the country, who also are tired of the partisanship.”</p> <p>The announcement from Sinema comes just days after Democrats solidified a 51-49 majority in the upper chamber with Sen.&nbsp;<a class="person-popover__link" href="https://thehill.com/people/raphael-warnock/" _mce_href="https://thehill.com/people/raphael-warnock/">Raphael Warnock’s&nbsp;</a>win in Georgia.</p>