The announcement Tuesday from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., that she won’t be running for re-election this year makes her the second vocal defender of the filibuster who’ll no longer be around to prevent any reforms to the antiquated maneuver. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has stood with Sinema in being a roadblock to filibuster reform, announced he won’t be running for re-election in November.
On top of those announced departures, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a staunch obstructionist who has praised Sinema’s defense of the filibuster, will no longer be leading the Senate GOP. Depending on which party controls Washington come January, these three decisions could lead to a sea change in how the Senate operates.
Depending on which party controls Washington come January, these three decisions could lead to a sea change in how the Senate operates.
Sinema, Manchin and McConnell have used sentimental terms like “respect for the Senate and its traditions” in opposing filibuster reform. But they have their own reasons for their opposition. Sinema, who believes that her appeal as a “moderate” requires bucking her colleagues, knows that her preferred form of dealmaking would take a nosedive if Democrats could legislate without the hindrance of getting 60 votes. The filibuster has given Manchin, a conservative Democrat from a deep red state, cover to avoid tough votes that his more liberal colleagues would have him take. McConnell leads a party whose goals don’t require passing major new laws and knows that changing the filibuster would vastly benefit Senate Democrats, who actually want to legislate.
Given the Republicans’ slim majority in the House and Democrats’ control of the Senate, a Joe Biden win in November could result in Democrats’ controlling both chambers and the White House. That would mean Democrats get a second chance to pass some of the legislation that Manchin’s and Sinema’s fidelity to the filibuster helped block during…
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