Retired astronaut Mark Kelly considering running against Martha McSally

[bigtree]

from The Hill:

Mark Kelly considering Senate bid as Arizona Dems circle McSally

Retired astronaut Mark Kelly is taking steps toward a bid against Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) in 2020, identifying potential staffers and strategists and meeting with Democrats around Arizona — though his allies say no final decision has been made.

Democratic sources said Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), has been calling and meeting with top Democratic activists in Arizona since late last year. He has identified a campaign manager, according to two of those sources, and he is working with one of Arizona’s top Democratic strategists as he considers his future.

Kelly has met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, to discuss a possible campaign.

“Mark appreciates the encouragement that he’s gotten from folks who are looking for someone to represent us in Washington who will address serious problems like low wage growth, climate change, health care,” said Rodd McLeod, the top Arizona strategist serving as Kelly’s spokesman. “He’s going to make a decision, but he has to go through a process of making sure that he considers what running for Senate would be like for him and his family.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/425897-mark-kelly-considering-senate-bid-as-arizona-dems-circle-mcsally

[octoberlib]

1. This would be awesome!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

37. K&R, This is also awesome:

The Blue Wave in the House did not teach republicans anything about electing criminals to the presidency, although tRump was labeling their party as a bunch of racists. Perhaps another Blue Wave in the Senate will lead to impeachment.

[hlthe2b]

2. FANTASTIC!!!! I will do what I can to help from Colorado...

[crazycatlady]

40. don't discount your own state

Cory Gardner needs to go.

[hlthe2b]

41. He's going.. Colorado has his number.

[W_HAMILTON]

3. Please do!

[ChazII]

4. Arizona will turn blue

with him as a senator.

[NewJeffCT]

5. Good luck to him

strong on gun control I know.

one of the swing seats Dems must get to win the senate back

[vsrazdem]

6. I have been hoping for this for some time. Doing my happy dance.

[madaboutharry]

7. I hope that he runs and wins.

[beachbum bob]

8. this would be a great candidate. I hope he does

[Pepsidog]

9. That would be great!

[AlexSFCA]

10. awesome, building blue firewall!

CA, WA, NV, CO and AZ. GOP is working hars to compramise the census and reduce electoral votes from western states.

[George II]

11. He would probably be elected in a landslide. He's very popular in Arizona (as well as the whole US)

I'm glad he's on our side, he and his wife worked tirelessly for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

[hibbing]

12. Him and his brother are awesome

Scott has a strong Twitter feed if anyone cares.


Peace

[BootinUp]

13. Just Do It.

[RussBLib]

14. sounds too good to be true

I'd donate to his campaign

[grantcart]

19. He's running

He and Gabrielle have openly talked about it for 2 years

[Honeycombe8]

15. Wow. I didn't see this coming. I think he'd have a good chance. Right?

Any Arizonians here to give an opinion on that?

[grantcart]

20. See 19 above

You can see articles about it in AZ group

[stuffmatters]

16. Yeees! I'll gladly donate (from "Tucson West")

[handmade34]

17. a big fat YES!!!

[oldsoftie]

18. Astronauts make great candidates

[SunSeeker]

21. Good. He will make an excellent candidate. nt

[bigtree]

22. kick

[FakeNoose]

23. Mark Kelly would be an awesome Senator for Arizona

[Adrahil]

24. I worked with him back in the 90's....

When he was a test pilot. Great guy.

[UniteFightBack]

25. Please do run....I believe we will crush the republiscums. nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. He's be a great candidate.

Excellent background and with Gabby Gifford at his side, he should do well.

[RHMerriman]

27. Captain Kelly would be a great candidate, and a great US senator...

Captain Kelly would be a great candidate, and a great US senator...

Graduate of the USMMA and NPGS; naval aviator; combat veteran; test pilot; astronaut; and the kind of individual whose sense of duty is such is that above and beyond all of that, when Rep. Giffords was wounded and in an extraordinarily challenging recovery. Capt. Kelly asked NOT to be relieved of duty with NASA ...

Best of luck to them both.

[GulfCoast66]

28. Test Pilot, Astronaut, good democrat, good looking(does not hurt). He would be formidable.

Faithful husband to a wife who was gravely injured in a shooting. Try criticizing his support for gun control! Running against a candidate who already lost to a liberal Democrat.

I must say I was hoping for a Hispanic Candidate, but he would be great.

But what do I know, I live in Florida!

[Ohiogal]

29. I heard him speak last year

He and Gabby came to my area to speak to a packed house and I thought he was wonderful and even then I thought what a good politician he’d make. This is great news!

[MLAA]

30. I would be honored to vote for him.

[friendly_iconoclast]

31. Yes, please!

[bigtree]

32. .

[DFW]

33. That would jive with something I heard, or rather, didn't hear, 3 weeks ago

I ran into his twin brother, Scott, whom I had never met. He said Mark and Gabby, whom I do know, were "off somewhere." Oddly vague. If they were setting up a run to put Mark in the Senate, now THAT would explain it all.

A Senator Mark Kelly would do Arizona proud. After some of the idiots they have had, especially as governor, but also in Congress, I'm not sure they DESERVE some one as good as Mark representing them in the Senate, but they'd be lucky to have him. He is one good man. Disciplined, dedicated, and with a good heart. The Republicans would hate him.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[MFGsunny]

34. Run, Mark, run! n/t

[Marcuse]

35. There could be a spirited primary.

[link:https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/425833-schumer-recruiting-top-notch-candidate-for-mccain-senate-seat|

(Ruben) Gallego, who was elected to his third House term in November, is the son of Hispanic immigrants, a Harvard graduate, and a Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq.

He serves as senior whip for the Democratic caucus, is the second vice chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and vice chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

[wryter2000]

36. Awesome

And my brother and his wife can vote for him. Wish I could.

[dlk]

38. Kelly Has Demonstrated He Has What it Takes to Be a Successful Senator-I Hope He Runs

[Power 2 the People]

39. Yes!!

[BadgerMom]

42. Please!

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[saidsimplesimon]

43. Mark Kelly can win that seat.

If he decides to run, I will support him and his efforts. He will have a grassroots base in Tucson.

[cp]

44. Yes, please!

He would be great.