Kyrsten Sinema describes Democrats as 'old dudes eating Jell-O'

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is cracking old age jokes about some of her geriatric Senate colleagues – after leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, while perhaps even drifting toward the GOP.

 Sinema, 46, gave up caucusing with Democrats. Although she is still aligned with them for organizing purposes, which hasn't impacted the size of the Democratic margin, and which allows her to keep her majority seat on four committees – including two that are of keen interest to the business community.

Those are the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. But there are no signs she is missing the catered luncheons that take place each week with Senate Democrats.

'Old dudes are eating Jell-O, everyone is talking about how great they are,' Sinema told a group of lobbyists recently, Politico reported.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, 46, has been joking to lobbyists about the advanced age of her former companions inside weekly Senate Democratic luncheons. She stopped going when she became an Independent

'I don't really need to be there for that. That's an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back,' she quipped.

She called the weekly luncheons, where party members meet separately inside ornate Senate rooms, 'ridiculous' as well as 'dumb.'

She said she uses her time doing 'productive work, which is why I’ve been able to lead every bipartisan vote that’s happened the last two years' – after tormenting the White House over the Inflation Reduction Act but then providing critical support after forcing changes.

The ironman runner who has taught a spin class kept up her routine with a regional flavor. 

'The Northerners and the Westerners put cool whip on their Jell-O, and the Southerners put cottage cheese,' she remarked, according to the account.

She was even 'more cutting' with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, with groups of Republican senators.

Democrats began the year fearing Sinema might bolt to the GOP altogether, although they would keep power with their 51-vote majority and the vice presidency. 

Sinema has bucked some Senate traditions with her fashion choices. She says she is glad to miss the luncheons where party members hash out policy and strategy over catered food

Retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 89. So is Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), 81, has been courting Sinema

She wants to codify Roe v. Wade, so it's not clear she would find a better home at the Republican lunches.

There are some aging Republicans as well, including fellow runner Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, who is 89. He is the same age as retiring Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California – although Grassley was just reelected to a six-year term.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the minority leader who would like to bring her over and who is often seen talking to her on the floor, is 81 and recently suffered a concussion when he fell at a fundraiser at the former Trump hotel in D.C.

The jokes might alienate Democrats, although they aren't in a position to do much about it. Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is challenging Sinema in the primary, putting party leaders in a bind.

The routine might be a hit with donors, though. Sinema began the year with $8 million in her fundraising account, and brought in $800,000 in the last quarter of 2022, boosted by donations from the energy and financial sector.