Kyrsten Sinema discusses bipartisanship with Rob Portman on C-SPAN

Former Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Rob Portman discussed bipartisanship on C-SPAN’s Ceasefire program, hosted by Dasha Burns, reflecting on their work together during the Biden administration and the challenges facing cross-party collaboration in today’s political climate.

Sinema, the former independent senator from Arizona, and Portman, the former Republican senator from Ohio, highlighted their partnership on the bipartisan infrastructure law. They described how they launched the effort by starting small meetings in Portman’s Senate hideaway and gradually built support, working from “the center out” rather than relying on party leadership. “Both parties at various times were like don’t do this,” Sinema said. “We just ignored them.”

The two former senators agreed that bipartisanship has become rarer and harder to achieve. Sinema noted that politicians attempting to compromise on issues face punishment from the edges of both parties. Portman pointed to a structural shift in how elected officials are chosen, explaining that primary elections increasingly favor extreme candidates selected by a small slice of the electorate. “The data is 8% of the voters are electing 80% of the House,” he said, citing research showing how narrow primary electorates shape the composition of Congress.

Portman emphasized that dealmaking remains possible when lawmakers focus on tangible results for their constituents. He pointed to a Cincinnati bridge project that took 30 years to plan but finally advanced through the infrastructure bill, demonstrating how bipartisan work can deliver concrete benefits. “People care about that,” he said. “If you’re willing to talk about how you’re making a difference in their lives and their families’ lives, bipartisanship can still be done but it’s hard.”

Sources

• C-SPAN — Ceasefire program featuring Kyrsten Sinema and Rob Portman discussing bipartisanship, June 4, 2026