Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has been censured by the state’s Democratic Party for her opposition to removing the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation without Republican support.

       “While we take no pleasure in this announcement, the [Arizona Democratic Party] Executive Board has decided to formally censure Senator Sinema as a result of her failure to do whatever it takes to ensure the health of our democracy,” the state party said.

       The chair of the board, Raquel Terán, added that “the Arizona Democratic Party is a diverse coalition with plenty of room for policy disagreements, however on the matter of the filibuster and the urgency to protect voting rights, we have been crystal clear. In the choice between an archaic legislative norm and protecting Arizonans’ right to vote, we choose the latter, and we always will”.

       Ms Terán said Republicans in the state are pushing “restrictive legislation to eliminate our popular and long-standing vote-by-mail system” and to “jail election workers”.

       “Last year, Republicans in 19 states passed 33 different laws that will make it harder for people to vote,” she added.

       Recommended Sinema faces blowback in Arizona for votes defying Democrats Democrats eye new strategy after failure of voting bill Schumer: 'We made progress' on voting bill, filibuster rules

       “As a party, our job is to support our Democratic candidates, and we appreciate Senator Sinema’s leadership in passing the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, we are also here to advocate for our constituents and the ramifications of failing to pass federal legislation that protects their right to vote are too large and far-reaching,” Ms Terán said.

       A censure is a symbolic condemnation without practical implications. Multiple groups are fundraising to mount a primary challenge against Ms Sinema in 2024. The last Democratic Senator to represent Arizona before Ms Sinema’s election in 2018 was Dennis DeConcini, who retired in 1995.

       The vice-chair of the Arizona Democrats, Michael Slugocki, told Insider that the vote to censure Ms Sinema took place on Saturday.

       “I’ve never, ever in my time organizing in the Arizona Democratic Party seen such a large amount of Democrats upset,” Mr Slugocki told the outlet. “It’s never been at these levels, ever.”

       Along with Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Ms Sinema was one of only two Democrats to vote against reforming the filibuster, which requires at least 60 votes to pass most laws in the senate.

       Democrats now appear unable to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R Lewis Act, a major priority for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats.

       “This should not be a partisan issue, the duty to protect our most fundamental right to vote is one that we all share,” Ms Terán said in a statement. “We were counting on Senator Sinema to fight for Arizona, find a path forward, and protect our democracy, but on this issue she has fallen short. Right now, Arizona is ground-zero for the modern-day fight for voting rights, and we don’t have any time to waste.”

       Recommended Congressman arrested with voting rights protesters after Senate demonstration Voting bill collapses, Democrats unable to change filibuster Biden says nation weary from COVID, but US in a better place

       Arizona Republicans ordered a partisan review of millions of ballots in the state after the 2020 election, they almost entirely removed the permanent early voting list in the state, meaning that ballots will no longer be sent by default to voters who haven’t used the system.

       More follows...