(CNN) most Unpredictable Senate Elections on the Map in 2024 Deployed in Arizona targeted by prominent Democrats Independent Senator Kirsten Cinema from the Democratic Party And Republicans want to seize these tensions in states that tend to stay away from them.

“It’s about grabbing some popcorn and watching,” said Republican Rep. Justin Wilmeth, describing the race as “the wild, wild west.”

Cinema Elected to Senate As a Democrat in 2018became an independent in December, but she continues to hold caucuses with her former party colleagues on the floor. She has not yet revealed whether she will seek her second term in 2024.

But her severed ties with Democratic voters and groups that once supported her were put on display Wednesday at what was called a “Sinema Sold Out” rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

Members of a progressive group representing workers, immigrants and veterans carried papier-mâché pigs as props to illustrate their courtship of cinema’s wealthy donors and called on former Democrats to resign. Nearly every group organized and surveyed voters in the Arizona heat to elect Cinema in 2018. None of the group members CNN spoke to said they would endorse her again. .

Alex Alvarez, executive director of Progress Arizona, said, “We will work hard to elect new senators who will do a much better job of representing Arizona.” came, and it became clear that the Arizonans didn’t want her running again.”

in the early stages

The contours of the Arizona Senate race may take longer to unfold than other high-profile 2024 races. Arizona’s filing deadline is next April, and the state’s primary isn’t due until next August.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb became the first major Republican last month take part in a race. His campaign declined an interview request. But several other high-profile Republican candidates are considering bidding.

Kari Lake, Lose the Republican nominee for governor. .

Abe Hamade Lost the 2022 Attorney General electionand Karin Taylor-Robson Lost to Lake in last year’s gubernatorial primaryalso met with officials from the National Republican Senate Committee. CNN reportedRepublican businessman Jim Lamon may also have lost another seat in the state last year.

But for now, Arizona’s Republicans, after losing the Senate, Last 3 Election Cyclesthey’re glad the drama is on the other side for now.

“I mean, I’m a politician. I’m a Republican,” said state legislator Wilmes. “And it’s good for me to know that my opponents are having trouble getting to the line of scrimmage and executing plays.”

Progressive mostly gathered in the back United States Congressman Ruben GallegoFive terms in the Phoenix Area Congress and an Iraq War veteran. pissed off cinema, was nearly $3.8 million to $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2023, which ended March 31, Federal Election Commission filings show. But Sinema still held a large cash advantage, with about $10 million in the bank against his $2.7 million opponent.

Gallego has been a bitter critic of the senator, accusing her of being a benefactor of lobbyists and business interests, and claiming that he has lost contact with the state of Arizona. Win by 2 points Over Republican Martha McSally in 2018.

“She’s broken trust with a lot of people in Arizona. They no longer trust her values ​​and she’s not trying to mend that relationship,” Gallego said in an interview. rice field.

The cinema office declined the interview request. “Kirsten is focused on providing real solutions, not campaign politics,” spokesman Pablo Sierracarmona said in a statement.

Other factors

However, Cinema’s bid for re-election as an independent, ahead of the 2024 Arizona election, isn’t the only potential landscape-changing development.

A business-minded centrist group, No Labels, won voting rights in several states. The organization describes itself as an insurance policy should a national party present an unacceptable presidential candidate, but Democrats in Arizona fear the group could partner with cinema in the Senate race. increase.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, acknowledged in March that the “No Label Party” won voting rights in the state after meeting minimum requirements.

Arizona Democratic Party said to have filed a complaint In late March, in Maricopa County Court, he sought to overturn No Labels’ recognition as a political party. No Labels is registered as a non-profit organization and does not disclose its donors. It argued that this meant it did not meet the requirements of a political party, such as disclosing donors, registering with the FEC, and adhering to donation limits.

Meanwhile, a group of Arizona veterans launched Save Democracy Arizona, which advocates for open primaries. rank choice vote — Proponents say the process will give candidates incentives to appeal to moderate voters rather than extreme parties. But as supporters work to put forward a ranked alternatives initiative on next year’s ballot, Republican state legislators are moving forward with their own ballot measures banning experimentation on how to vote. .

“Independent Voice”

Although cinema touts itself as the state’s “independent voice”, roughly evenly divided Among Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters, she could face the challenge of amassing independent support should she run for re-election.

At a monthly meeting in Mesa this week, a group of frustrated independent voters came together to begin sorting out the petition process for ranked choice ballots. Some were in favor of cinema. But others, like Becky Wyatt, who identify as independent voters but maintain Democratic registrations, said they find the senator inaccessible to Arizona voters.

“I gave her money. I gave her money for Christmas presents to support her on behalf of my parents,” Wyatt said. “And she’s dead to me.”

Other members of the group said they felt the cinema misled voters.

Brady Busby, an independent who attended the conference, said: “It’s a total mistake to run for one party and then immediately turn around and switch to being an independent. So she’s my support. I can’t get it,” he said.

Another independent, CJ Diegel, said, “She just pisses off a lot of people who are responsible for her electoral future.”

Clint Smith, who last year ran for a bright red U.S. House seat outside of Phoenix and received 6% of the vote, is unlikely to win as an independent despite Cinema’s huge cash and name advantage. He said it would be a difficult challenge.

“People feel like they’re backing into corners when the push is on the horizon,” he said.