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Politics

Outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema taps into her millions in campaign cash for lavish international travel and meals – including near $1,300 Nobu Tokyo dinner

By
Ryan King
Published Oct. 15, 2024, 6:21 p.m. ET

Outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema dropped thousands on ritzy travel experiences over the summer as her tenure in Washington wound down.

In the third quarter of this year, Sinema (I-Ariz.) spent roughly $216,000 on expenses related to travel — including trips to Japan and France — and another $152,000 on security, according to her latest campaign finance report.

In all, Sinema’s campaign spent $650,536 between July 1 and Sept. 30, far more than her other retiring peers in the upper chamber — such as Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), whose campaign listed $224,521 in spending and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), whose campaign shelled out $23,440.

Kyrsten Sinema
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is widely regarded as one of the most centrist voices in the Senate. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Some of Sinema’s expenses appear to correspond with previously known travel. For example, she spent at least $2,593 on security in late July and $1,625 on meals in late August during a trip to Paris.

Sinema, a keen runner, had competed in an amateur marathon along the Olympic course in August, completing the race in 4 hours and 48 minutes.

The previous month, the 48-year-old spent at least $2,856 on meals in Tokyo, including $1,262 on a single sitdown at Nobu Tokyo.

She hiked Mount Fuji that same month, according to Arizona-based Cronkite News.

Astroscale, a firm based in Tokyo that strives for “space sustainability,” suggested in a Facebook post that it had hosted Sinema in early July, around the same time as her campaign expenditures in Japan.

Kyrsten Sinema
Early in her career, Kyrsten Sinema had been a staunch progressive. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Other expenses listed are for domestic travel and lodging, including a $840 early July listing for accommodations in West Hollywood, Calif., as well as a $1,060 payment that same day to a hotel in Arizona.

Sinema’s campaign closed out September with approximately $5 million cash on hand.

In March, Sinema opted against pursuing a second Senate term, lamenting that “compromise is a dirty word” in Washington.

“We’ve arrived at that crossroad and we chose anger and division,” she said at the time. “I believe in my approach, but it’s not what America wants right now.”

Kyrsten Sinema
The Arizona senator has expressed frustrations that politicians who make the most noise tend to thrive. Getty Images

Sinema began her tenure as a centrist Democrat and famously clashed with President Biden and others within her party who pressed for high-dollar iterations of his so-called “Build Back Better” agenda back in 2022.

Ultimately, the Senate passed a watered-down version of Biden’s agenda, which was rebranded as the Inflation Reduction Act.

Following that ordeal, Sinema announced that she was switching her party registration to Independent, though she still caucuses with the Democrats.

Had Sinema vied for re-election, she would have faced a difficult three-way contest between Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Republican Kari Lake.

She has declined to publicly make an endorsement in the race.

Sinema’s Senate office and campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.