Mark Kelly Emerges as Top Contender for Kamala Harris’s VP Slot

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona with a dynamic background, is reportedly among the top candidates being considered for Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in her re-election campaign. NBC News disclosed this information on Tuesday, citing anonymous sources from Harris’ campaign.

Kelly, who became a U.S. senator in 2020 through a special election victory, has an impressive career history. Before his political tenure, he served as a U.S. Navy captain and an astronaut. In the 2020 special election, Kelly replaced the late Sen. John McCain, overcoming Republican incumbent Martha McSally. Two years later, he secured a full six-year term by defeating Republican challenger Blake Masters.

Born in New Jersey, Kelly flew combat missions during the Gulf War as a naval aviator and piloted NASA space shuttles beginning in 1996. His twin brother, Scott Kelly, also an astronaut, together making history as the only siblings to journey into space.

Kelly’s personal life has also been marked by resilience. He is married to former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011. The attempt resulted in six deaths, and Giffords sustained a gunshot head injury, leading to her recovery in a medically induced coma.

Driven by these life experiences, Kelly and Giffords founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, focusing on gun control measures. The nonprofit, now known as Giffords, advocates for policies such as universal background checks and red flag laws.

Kelly’s political career is notable, as he holds a seat that hadn’t been won by a Democrat since Carl Hayden’s seventh term victory in 1962. His upcoming role as Arizona’s senior senator will commence following Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s departure this year.