Looks like the competition is heating up in for the Democratic primary election in the swing state of Arizona. Mark Kelly is a former astronaut and husband to past Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Kelly has announced he will run for the Senate seat that use to belong to John McCain.
“I care about people, I care about the state of Arizona, I care about this nation, so because of that, I’ve decided that I’m launching the campaign for the United States Senate,” Kelly said in the video.
Mark Kelly is a strong advocate for strict gun control policy since the attempt on his wife’s life back in 2011. It looks like he may be a good candidate to flip the Senate seat from red to blue after the recent success of Democrats in Arizona.
In 2011, Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range as she began her third term in the House. The shooting took place during a public event where six people died and 13 were injured.
This nomination is set to create a dramatic faceoff in the general election against Martha McSally (R-AZ), the current Republican Representative who was appointed by the state’s governor after John McCain’s death.
McSally recently shared her concerns over Trump's withdraw from Syria. As a veteran, she was deployed to the Middle East six times.
"I agree with President Trump's objective to not be bogged down in the Middle East, to bring our men and women home, and we really need to be looking at the rising threat of China," said McSally
She also argued she believed the United States should support the Kurds who have played a key ally role in the fight against ISIS.
"We cannot tolerate a NATO ally now coming in and mowing them down. That is just not the right message," McSally said. "It's not good for the safety of America, so I really hope it's reconsidered."
Arizona’s Governor Doug Ducey selected McSally to the seat the has been held by McCain since 1987. She is favored among Senate leadership especially Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).