Kyrsten Sinema announced she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent. Decision was months in the making, according to aides and allies close to the Arizona senator. Some critics see it as a calculated ploy for survival; others see potential implications for 2024 Senate bid. Sources say she had been weighing a departure from the party for months. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer says he learned of her decision the day before she announced it.
