One of the best opportunities in the country to pick up a Republican seat is in Arizona, where Mark Kelly (D) is leading in polls and fundraising.
He faces Sen. Martha McSally (R), who lost a Senate race in 2018 but was appointed soon afterwards to the seat held by the late Sen. John McCain.
Kelly has a stellar background and record. He is a retired U.S. Navy combat pilot who flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Selected as an astronaut, he performed four missions in space, and traveled to the International Space Station. Mark left NASA in 2012, and he and his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, made their permanent home in Arizona to focus on her rehabilitation and recovery.
Mark supports pursuing diplomatic solutions to reducing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, including extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). He spent a career in public service using facts and data to solve problems, and will be a strong and reliable leader in the Senate. He understands the importance of a strong military and believes in the value of strong diplomacy.
McSally is a U.S. Air Force combat veteran and previously served in the House of Representatives. She opposed the Iran nuclear deal, labeling it “A dangerous deal for America and our allies.” A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she is a staunch supporter of the President’s agenda.
Arizona is a changing state. Trump won here in 2016, but by just three percent of the vote. Democrats now hold a slim lead in the state’s congressional delegation, and the Grand Canyon state is definitely at play in the 2020 presidential contest.
This race is officially rated a toss-up, and polls show it will be one of the most competitive Senate races this cycle.
