Mark Kelly Under Consideration for Kamala Harris’s VP Slot

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat with two successive victories in traditionally Republican Arizona, is now a potential candidate for Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. The vetting process has begun, according to sources from Harris’ campaign reported by NBC on Tuesday.

Kelly, a former astronaut and U.S. Navy captain, has represented Arizona in the U.S. Senate since 2020. He won a special election to complete the term of the late John McCain, defeating Republican Martha McSally. In 2022, he secured his position for a full six-year term.

Kelly’s notable career spans from flying combat missions during the Gulf War as a naval aviator to piloting the NASA space shuttle in 1996. His identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, also an astronaut, shares the unique distinction of siblings who have both ventured into orbit.

The senator’s personal life is interwoven with his professional endeavors. He is married to former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a 2011 assassination attempt in Tucson. The tragic event, which injured Giffords gravely, claimed six lives and led to her extended recovery.

In response, Kelly and Giffords co-founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, advocating for gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws. The organization now operates under the name Giffords.

Remarkably, the Senate seat Kelly occupies hadn’t been won by a Democrat since Carl Hayden in 1962. Kelly convincingly defeated Republican Blake Masters in the 2022 election. With Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s departure, Kelly is set to become Arizona’s senior senator.

Kelly ended his tenure with NASA and the Navy in 2011 to support Giffords’ recovery. He is the fourth retired astronaut to serve in Congress.

While he positions himself as a moderate Democrat, Kelly has occasionally criticized President Joe Biden, particularly on border issues. Despite this, he has aligned with Biden’s policies 94.5% of the time.