Could Mark Kelly of Arizona Be Tapped for Vice President?

Mark Kelly is being vetted as a potential vice presidential candidate for the 2024 election, after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection.

PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is now under consideration to join Kamala Harris as her running mate, following President Joe Biden’s decision not to pursue a second term.

Kelly has built a reputation in Arizona, a historically Republican state, drawing from his career as an astronaut and his moderate political stance.

He outperformed all other Democrats on the ballot in his two Senate campaigns, surpassing Biden by 2 percentage points in Arizona in 2020.

Kelly first rose to national prominence following the tragic shooting of his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which left six dead and Giffords with severe injuries. The incident led Kelly and Giffords to become gun-control advocates.

In the Senate, Kelly has prioritized issues like national security, military affairs, and drought in the U.S. West. He played a key role in crafting the CHIPS and Science Act to enhance U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.

Originally from New Jersey, Kelly’s background includes serving as a Navy test pilot during the Gulf War before his NASA career.

Unlike his Arizona Senate counterpart Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party, Kelly maintains strong grassroots support while appealing to independent voters.

Alongside Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have also been vetted by the Harris campaign.

No official selection has been made yet, leaving room for speculation.

The Arizona Democratic Party’s 2024 Delegation unanimously supports Harris, making Kelly an unlikely primary nominee replacement for Biden.

Polls by Bluelabs Analytics showed Kelly as a strong candidate against Trump, polling 5 points above Biden in battleground states. Other top candidates included Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Kelly has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, expressing confidence in her ability to defeat Trump and pledging his full support.

Some comments on his X post indicate a preference for Kelly as a vice-presidential choice.

Biden had been the presumptive nominee, easily winning primary elections, but the official nomination process occurs in August. Party rules could allow another candidate to emerge, with the presidential nominee ultimately decided by delegates at the Democratic National Convention.

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Decision 2024

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