Arizona Democratic Party Backs Mark Kelly for Vice President, Calls on Kamala Harris to Choose Him

The Arizona Democratic Party has officially endorsed U.S. Senator Mark Kelly as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. Harris is anticipated to become the Democratic nominee for president next month.

“Senator Kelly has been a champion for Arizonans, engaging them in the path towards building a better Arizona and creating a strong and diverse coalition along the way. Senator Kelly is exactly the type of leader Arizonans want and America needs,” stated Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano. “The path to the White House runs through Arizona, and we are confident that with Kamala Harris and Mark Kelly at the top of the ticket, Democrats will win in November.”

Harris entered the presidential race five days ago following President Joe Biden’s sudden withdrawal from reelection, due to concerns about his ability to defeat Donald Trump. With sufficient delegate support, Harris is poised to secure the nomination at the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago.

Besides Kelly, Harris is considering four other Democratic officials for the vice-presidential slot: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Vetting materials have been requested from all of them, placing Kelly on a shortlist of potential VP candidates.

Kelly, a former astronaut and U.S. Navy captain, has been serving as a U.S. Senator since 2020. He initially won a special election to complete the late John McCain’s term, defeating Republican Martha McSally. He subsequently secured a full six-year term in 2022.

Kelly’s wife, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, survived an assassination attempt in Tucson in 2011. The attack claimed six lives and left Giffords in a medically induced coma while she recovered from a head injury.

Following the shooting, Kelly and Giffords co-founded the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions, advocating for gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws. The organization has since been renamed Giffords.

Kelly resigned from NASA and the Navy in 2011 to support Giffords’ recovery. He holds the distinction of being the fourth retired astronaut to serve in Congress. Notably, he has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat, occasionally criticizing President Joe Biden on border policy while aligning with Biden’s positions 94.5% of the time.