Jon Gabriel

Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the bipartisan independent from Arizona, announced Tuesday she would not seek re-election. This isn’t the biggest shock, considering Americans’ current aversion to conversation and compromise.  The senator kept silent for months, avoiding any questions about her political future. But over that time, her approval polls remained as low as her Election Day chances.  In a social media post, Sinema lamented the current era of hyperpartisanship.  "It’s all or nothing. The outcome is less important than beating the other guy,” she said in a brief video. “The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic... Compromise is a dirty word.

“What’s the problem with Arizona?” I’ve been asked this question countless times in the past week, as I was after Election Day 2020. That year, it took nine days for major media organizations to call my home state for President Joe Biden. This time around, the major races were called after six, but several down-ticket contests still hang in the balance. Friends as far away as Hungary and Brazil asked how their entire nations can count votes in a few hours, while it takes Arizona a week or more. Not to mention Floridians, where races were called an hour after polls closed. Back in 2000, the Sunshine State was the electoral laughing stock. Now, it’s Arizona’s turn. Boy, did we earn it. Two decades ago, Florida’s presidential tally between George W.