Kyrsten Sinema courted Republican fossil fuel donors with filibuster stance

Houston fundraiser reveals Democrat's aggressive efforts to capitalize on her Senate power on matters ranging from climate to taxes

With a crucial vote pending over filibuster rules that would have made strong voting rights legislation feasible, Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema flew into Houston, Texas, for a fundraiser that drew dozens of fossil fuel chieftains, including Continental Resources chairman Harold Hamm and ConocoPhillips chief executive Ryan Lance.

The event was held on 18 January at the upmarket River Oaks Country Club. One executive told the Guardian that Sinema spoke for about half an hour and informed a mostly Republican crowd that they could rest assured" she would not back any changes with filibuster rules, reiterating a stance she took several days before during a Senate speech.