Global InformationMark Kelly information
Mark Kelly | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| United States Senator from Arizona | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2020 Serving with Kyrsten Sinema | |
| Preceded by | Martha McSally |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Edward Kelly February 21, 1964 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (2018–present)[1] |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (before 2018) |
| Spouses | Amelia Babis
(m. 1989; div. 2004)Gabby Giffords (m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Scott Kelly (twin brother) |
| Education | United States Merchant Marine Academy (BS) Naval Postgraduate School (MS) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Senate website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1986–2011 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 54d 2h 4m |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Missions | STS-108 STS-121 STS-124 STS-134 |
Mission insignia |     |
| Retirement | October 1, 2011[2] |
Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, former astronaut, and United States Navy captain who has served as the junior United States senator from Arizona since 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected in the special election held following the death of Senator John McCain, defeating incumbent Republican Martha McSally.
Kelly flew combat missions during the Gulf War as a naval aviator before being selected as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996. He flew his first space mission in 2001 as pilot of STS-108, piloted STS-121 in 2006, and commanded STS-124 in 2008 and STS-134 in 2011, the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour.[3] His identical twin, Scott Kelly, is also a retired astronaut; they are the only siblings to have both traveled into orbit.[4][5]
Kelly's wife, then-Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot and nearly killed in an assassination attempt on January 8, 2011.[6][7] Six people died in the Tucson shooting. After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting the following year, Giffords and Kelly founded the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions, later renamed Giffords, which campaigns for gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws.[8][9][10][11]
Kelly announced his candidacy for Arizona's Class 3 U.S. Senate seat in the 2020 special election on February 12, 2019. He won the Democratic primary on August 4, 2020, and defeated incumbent Republican Martha McSally in the November 3, 2020, general election, becoming the first Democrat to win this seat since 1962. Kelly was sworn in on December 2, 2020. In 2022, he was elected to a full term in office, defeating Republican challenger Blake Masters. Kelly will become the senior senator from Arizona in January 2025, when Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Senate.[12]
- ^ Wingett Sanchez, Yvonne (March 4, 2019). "Mark Kelly Is Running as a Democrat for the Senate. in 2012, He Voted in a GOP Primary". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
retiredwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sunseri, Gina (June 1, 2011). "Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands Safely in Florida". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
- ^ Garrett-Bakelman, F. E.; Darshi, M.; Green, S. J.; Gur, R. C.; Lin, L.; MacIas, B. R.; McKenna, M. J.; Meydan, C.; Mishra, T.; Nasrini, J.; Piening, B. D.; Rizzardi, L. F.; Sharma, K.; Siamwala, J. H.; Taylor, L.; Vitaterna, M. H.; Afkarian, M.; Afshinnekoo, E.; Ahadi, S.; Ambati, A.; Arya, M.; Bezdan, D.; Callahan, C. M.; Chen, S.; Choi AMK; Chlipala, G. E.; Contrepois, K.; Covington, M.; Crucian, B. E.; De Vivo, I. (April 12, 2019). "The NASA Twins Study: A multidimensional analysis of a year-long human spaceflight". Science. 364 (6436): eaau8650. Bibcode:2019Sci...364.8650G. doi:10.1126/science.aau8650. PMC 7580864. PMID 30975860.
- ^ Zimmer, Carl (April 11, 2019). "Scott Kelly Spent a Year in Orbit. His Body Is Not Quite the Same". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Tolson, Mike (January 17, 2011). "Their toughest mission yet, Shooting of Gabrielle Giffords thrusts her husband and brother-in-law, both astronauts, into an unfamiliar spotlight". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ Barry, Dan (February 4, 2011). "Public Drawn to Choice by Giffords's Husband". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ Knappenberger, Ryan (April 15, 2021). "Giffords, congressional Democrats call for action on gun reform bills". kold.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Zhou, Li (September 24, 2020). "Can Democrats pull off another Senate win in Arizona?". Vox. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Gabrielle Giffords launches gun control campaign". BBC News. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ Arkin, James (October 18, 2019). "Mark Kelly raises astronomical sum in bid to snag Senate seat from GOP". POLITICO. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ "Kysten Sinema will not seek re-election".