Sinema Calls GOP Midterm Loss a Tsunami

Former senator Kyrsten Sinema says Republicans lost the 2026 midterms in a tsunami as Democrats gain control of Arizona's Legislature.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Political Parties

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Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said Republicans lost the 2026 midterm elections in a tsunami during a radio interview on KTAR News 92.3 FM. Democrats will control both chambers of the Arizona Legislature for the first time in 60 years.

Why it matters

The results give Democrats a larger share of federal and state power, with a possible 56-seat Senate majority and full control of Arizona's legislative chambers. Sinema said the party now faces the challenge of shifting from opposition to proposing policy.

Democrats hold 55 U.S. Senate seats and could reach 56, while the new Arizona Legislature split is 20-10 in favor of Democrats. The final Senate count and certification timeline were not addressed in the available reporting.

The players

Kyrsten Sinema

Former U.S. senator from Arizona who now serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Business Roundtable and previously switched from the Democratic Party to become an independent.

Kris Mayes

Arizona Attorney General who has called for a pause on new data centers in the state.

KTAR News 92.3 FM

Phoenix-area radio station that broadcasts the Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos program on which Sinema made her remarks.

The details

Sinema made the remarks in a radio interview on KTAR News 92.3 FM's Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos, where she said voters' top concerns were corruption, gas prices, the cost of goods and the war in Iran. She also said Democrats must move from being the party of no to the party of pro.

Friday, November 13, 2026: Sinema made her tsunami remarks on KTAR radio.
November 2026: Republicans lost the midterm elections, according to Sinema's remarks.
Upon the new session: Democrats take control of both Arizona Legislature chambers for the first time in 60 years.

Political Context

The results mirror the 2010 midterm wave, when Republicans gained large numbers of state legislative seats after a Democratic presidency. Sinema's remarks suggest Democrats now face the same post-wave challenge of converting electoral gains into an affirmative governing agenda.

Shifts in control of the Arizona Legislature and the U.S. Senate can change which state and federal bills advance, including rules on data centers and energy costs. Readers in Arizona will see new legislative priorities as Democrats take over both chambers.

The takeaway

Election results can shift policy priorities quickly, so tracking legislative agendas after each session is the best way to understand how the new majorities will govern. Watching both state and federal votes gives a clearer picture of what changes for everyday costs and regulations.