Washington, D.C.—Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) openly mocked Senate Democrats on Monday over their sudden embrace of the filibuster, a parliamentary tool they once sought to abolish. This policy reversal comes as Democrats face a Republican-controlled Senate in the next congressional session and seek ways to check the incoming GOP majority.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sinema shared a Washington Examiner article quoting several Senate Democrats who acknowledged that the filibuster could now serve as a vital mechanism for slowing or blocking President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. Alongside the link, Sinema wrote, “Please, please, please stop what you’re doing and read these quotes. Filing under: schadenfreude.”
Democrats’ Reversal on the Filibuster
The Democrats’ sudden shift is notable given their efforts to eliminate the filibuster in recent years. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) led a push in 2022 to remove the 60-vote threshold in order to advance key Democratic priorities, including voting rights legislation. However, opposition from Sinema and Senator Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.)—both centrists—blocked those efforts.
Now, with the Senate poised to shift to a 53-47 Republican majority in 2025, prominent Democrats are expressing their appreciation for the very rule they once sought to abolish:
- Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.): “You play with the rules that exist. We’re not in charge.”
- Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii): Acknowledged the importance of using the filibuster to slow or halt the GOP’s legislative efforts.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.): Emphasized the necessity of using the filibuster to prevent “autocratic and long-headed abuse of power.”
Sinema’s Consistent Defense of the Filibuster
Sinema’s unwavering support for the filibuster has been a defining feature of her political identity, though it has come at a cost. In January 2022, the Arizona Democratic Party executive committee censured her for her refusal to eliminate the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation. Her stance was criticized by many within her former party, who saw her position as a betrayal of core Democratic values.
Despite this criticism, Sinema has maintained that the filibuster is a necessary safeguard for democracy. “The filibuster is a tool that protects the minority from the majority’s abuses,” Sinema has repeatedly argued.
Changing Senate Dynamics
As Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate, Democrats now see the filibuster as their best hope for blocking or mitigating the legislative agenda of President-elect Trump. Their newfound appreciation for the filibuster underscores the shifting power dynamics in Washington and highlights how minority parties often depend on Senate rules to influence governance.
Reactions to Sinema’s Remarks
Sinema’s comments on social media quickly gained traction, with supporters and critics alike weighing in. Her “schadenfreude” jab reflects the political irony of Democrats’ policy reversal, sparking debate over the strategic use of Senate rules in an increasingly polarized political climate.
As the new session approaches, the role of the filibuster will likely remain a contentious topic, shaping the legislative priorities and strategies of both parties in the years to come.
