‘Secular’ Ariz. Democrat to replace sole atheist in Congress

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., the only openly atheist member of Congress, lost his race for another term on Tuesday (Nov. 6).

But secularists will not remain unrepresented in the Capitol. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, a former Arizona state senator who was raised Mormon and is a bisexual, has narrowly won her pitch for a House seat by 2,000 votes.

While Sinema’s campaign was initially unavailable for comment after Tuesday’s election, spokesman Justin Unga said Friday that Sinema does not consider herself a nonbeliever, adding that she prefers a “secular approach.”

“Kyrsten believes the terms non-theist, atheist or nonbeliever are not befitting of her life’s work or personal character,” Unga said in email. “She does not identify as any of the above.”

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Arizona, we aint as red as you thunk we be.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Well, a secular approach is better than a fundie

but it sounds like a cop-out to me when I hear it. But I am glad she won anyways.

We all are aware that openly atheist politicians are rare as hen's teeth for a reason.

[brooklynite]

3. There was a Congressional candidate I met, who, if she'd won her Primary would have been a...

..."lapsed Unitarian" Congresswoman. Read into it what you will.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. "If she'd won" being the telling part.

We have a long way to go to be treated equally to Christians. It is harder for someone without faith to win elections.

And I guess that I read into this that she would prefer not to use the terms atheist or even agnostic.

[brooklynite]

5. Actually, I don't think it was an issue...

...she was in a 5-way race, and the winner was a deep-pockets self-funder.