Kyrsten Sinema

I was not a Democrat; I was an independent. Here's the thing: You can't win that way. But I didn't know that.

The number one thing I will take with me is my experience as a social worker who saw what happened to families who couldn't find jobs, struggled to take care of their health and saw opportunity slipping away for their kids. I ran for Congress because politicians were fighting with each other instead of looking out for these families.

I spent nearly two decades as a social worker and an educator with kids. So, my whole life has been about helping middle-class families. So it's just kind of a hollow argument to say I'm not a family person.

A huge dollar bill is the most accurate way to teach children the real motto of the United States: In the Almighty Dollar We Trust... Until the average American realizes that capitalism damages her livelihood while augmenting the livelihoods of the wealthy, the Almighty Dollar will continue to rule. It certainly is not ruling in our favor.

Hardworking families can no longer afford to wait for a Congress that gridlocks on ideology. I look forward to working with my colleagues from both parties to get things done.

My family was actually homeless for several years when I was a kid. It's a bit unusual for a member of Congress.

I'm not a member of any faith community, and I think faith is a deeply personal issue that individuals should deal with in their private lives.

I think there's this pressure to get rid of the fun that makes us human. It hasn't worked on me.

My parents are very conservative. They taught me the value of hard work - don't depend on other people, do it yourself.

I remember when I was a young social worker, the first time I went to the state capital in Arizona, where I eventually served for seven years, I was so nervous to go and lobby my state legislators. Because I only had a master's degree at the time in social work.