Ex-Democrat Senator Admits She Voted For Trump-Backed House Candidate

Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is quietly making the case for a Trump-backed Republican in a hotly contested Arizona House race, less than four years after leaving the Democratic Party.

Sinema, now an independent, has told business and political leaders she voted for former NFL kicker Jay Feely in the Republican primary and is likely to support him again in November, Axios reported.

Feely faces Democrat Amish Shah, a former state representative, in the race to replace outgoing Republican Rep. David Schweikert. Sinema lives and votes in the 1st Congressional District, giving her a personal stake in a contest where she still carries political weight.

Arizona’s water troubles have figured into her support. One source told Axios that Sinema views Feely as the best candidate to help tackle the crisis, including reductions in the state’s allocation of Colorado River water.

During informal gatherings over the past month, Sinema has said she has gotten to know Feely and his wife and likes the Republican candidate, according to two sources who heard her remarks.

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She described him as “commonsense” and a “fiscal conservative,” the sources told Axios.

The conversations took place among groups of business leaders, political figures and allies. Sinema discussed both her Republican primary vote and her likely choice in the general election.

Her private praise puts the former Democratic senator and President Donald Trump on the same side of a closely watched House contest. Trump has endorsed Feely as Republicans fight to hold the open seat.

Shah, meanwhile, has faced criticism comparing him to Sinema because of his willingness to break with Democratic leaders during his time in the state Legislature.

The district has long been competitive, and Cook Political Report currently rates the race as “lean Democrat.”

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