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Mark Kelly
Arizona
Senator since 2020
2022 midterms
“Corporate influence in Washington is standing in the way of progress on everything from lowering prescription drug costs to tackling climate change. That’s why I introduced legislation to put an end to the corporate PACs that corrupt our political system.”
Mark Kelly’s defeat of Trumpy Republican incumbent Senator Martha McSally solidifies Arizona’s Senate seats in the hands of Democrats, Kelly and his senior Kyrsten Sinema (elected in 2018). This restores hope for many Arizonians, who haven’t had two Democratic senators in more than six decades. A former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain, Kelly led missions in space and as a naval aviator in combat. Kelly is the husband of former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, whose heart he won during the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations when he managed to lasso a calf on a tour of a Tucson ranch. Their first date was at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence because Giffords was multi-tasking. In 2011 Giffords was nearly killed when she was shot in the head in an assassination attempt. The tragedy upended both of their lives. Kelly left NASA to be with his wife during her recovery. Since the assassination attempt, they have dedicated their time to preventing gun violence. Together they founded “Giffords,” a gun-safety organization, which has helped pass nearly 300 gun-safety laws around the country.
—Micaela Durand
Micaela Durand is a filmmaker and writer who was born in Argentina, raised on Long Island and lives in New York City.
Voting Record
In light of crimes that surged against Asian Americans during the pandemic, Kelly co-sponsored the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act in March 2021 with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), which was signed into law this month. The legislation addresses the rise of violence and hate crimes, particularly against Asian Americans, and would strengthen hate-crime reporting in order to make it more accessible at the local and state levels as well as making reporting resources available in multiple languages. It would also expand public education about hate crimes.
Kelly voted for a resolution to impeach Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and led the House of Representatives towards impeaching Trump, marking the first time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached more than once.
Despite Kelly’s campaign, which advocated for every Arizonian, regardless of race, to live free of discrimination, he voted for an amendment to the Coronavirus Relief Package to block stimulus checks for undocumented workers. This was a shock to the Latino community who rallied to elect him. Undocumented immigrants have not received any federal aid throughout the pandemic and data shows they have been disproportionally affected by Covid-19.
Policy Positions
Healthcare
Supports a public healthcare option that would compete with private health care, in lieu of Medicare-for-all. Wants to lower cost for prescription drugs and crack down on bad actors of the opioid epidemic.
Police Reform
Not in favor of defunding the police. Believes in reforming policing by changing enforcement tactics.
Climate Change
As an engineer and astronaut he understands climate change is real and a threat to our economy and livelihoods. Supports policies to create clean energy jobs and lead the way towards a sustainable economy.
Gun Laws
Advocates for tougher gun laws, background checks, and stronger domestic violence legislation.
Endorsements
Foreign Policy Action Network
Human Rights Campaign
LGBTQ Nation
Planned Parenthood
Coral Evans, Flagstaff Mayor
:"Arizona is on the front lines of climate change and we need to elect people who will make decisions based on sound scientific facts in order to protect Northern Arizona’s forests and Arizona’s water supply for future generations."
State: Arizona
As both a former astronaut who has had to rely on science to stay alive and having had to endure Arizona summers (in 2020 Arizona heat killed more than 300 people in Maricopa County alone), Kelly has been vocal about the fact that climate change is a crisis. Kelly has advocated that predominantly people of color are affected severely by climate change. Arizona Latinos account for 30 percent of the state’s population. Toxic chemicals have polluted the groundwater of Phoenix for decades in areas that are mostly home to Latino communities.
Just five months into his term, Kelly has convened regular conference calls with an informal group of Latino members to allow for lively dialogue to get a sense of what is needed in their communities. After visiting the border, where a surge of migrants has overwhelmed shelters and services, Kelly called for more resources to house migrants as well as a transportation system to get migrants to Phoenix and beyond. Kelly supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows children brought to the U.S. to avoid deportation, get a driver’s license, and to work.
As an advocate for making climate change a national priority, Kelly’s stated legislative goals call for the expansion of renewable energy. He is in opposition to uranium mining around Grand Canyon National Park. He condemned Trump for removing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement.
