Mark Kelly

American politician, astronaut, and naval officer (born 1964)

For other people named Mark Kelly, see Mark Kelly (disambiguation).

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

(1964-02-21) February 21, 1964 (age 60)
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
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 Kelly's voice

Mark Kelly questions witnesses on water affordability
Recorded May 31, 2023

Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, retired astronaut, and United States Navy captain. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the junior U.S. senator from Arizona since 2020. In 2022, he won reelection to a full term.

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, then piloted STS-121 in 2006, and commanded STS-124 in 2008 and STS-134 (the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour) in 2011. In January 2011, Kelly's wife, then-Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords, was shot and nearly killed in an assassination attempt in Arizona. Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA that October. In 2013, Kelly and Giffords founded a nonprofit political action committee, Americans for Responsible Solutions (later merged into Giffords), which campaigned for gun control measures like universal background checks.

On February 12, 2019, Kelly announced his candidacy for Arizona's Class 3 U.S. Senate seat in the 2020 special election.[a] He won the Democratic primary on August 4, 2020, and defeated incumbent Republican Martha McSally in the general election on November 3, becoming the first Democrat to win this seat since 1962. Kelly was sworn in on December 2. In 2022, he was elected to a full term in office, defeating Republican challenger Blake Masters. Independent Kyrsten Sinema's departure from the Senate in January 2025 will make Kelly the senior senator from Arizona.[3] He was reportedly one of the three leading contenders for the Democratic vice presidential nomination in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, along with Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota governor Tim Walz.[4] Presidential nominee Kamala Harris chose Walz.[5]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Mark Kelly[6] and identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, are sons of Richard and Patricia (née McAvoy) Kelly, two retired police officers.[7][8] Kelly is of Irish descent.[9] He was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey, and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. Kelly graduated from Mountain High School in 1982. In 1986, he took highest honors in a marine engineering and nautical science BSc from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. In 1994, he received a MSc in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.[10]

## Naval career (1987–2011)

[edit]

In December 1987, Kelly became a naval aviator and received initial training on the A-6E Intruder attack aircraft. He was then assigned to Attack Squadron 115 (VA-115) at NAF Atsugi in Kanagawa, Japan. He was deployed twice with VA-115 to the Persian Gulf aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway, which was homeported at Naval Station Yokosuka in Yokosuka, Japan. During Operation Desert Storm, Kelly flew 39 combat missions. After the Gulf War, Kelly received his master's degree and then attended U.S. Naval Test Pilot School from 1993 to 1994. As a naval aviator and test pilot, he has logged over 5,000 hours in more than 50 different aircraft and trapped over 375 carrier landings.[10]

During his Navy career, Kelly received two Defense Superior Service Medals; one Legion of Merit; two Distinguished Flying Crosses; four Air Medals (two individual/two strike flight) with Combat "V"; two Navy Commendation Medals, (one with combat "V"); one Navy Achievement Medal; two Southwest Asia Service Medals; one Navy Expeditionary Medal; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; a NASA Distinguished Service Medal; and an Overseas Service Ribbon.[10][11]

On June 21, 2011, Kelly announced his retirement from both the Navy and NASA, effective October 1, citing Gabby Giffords's needs during her recovery from the attempt on her life that January.[2]

## NASA career (1996–2011)

[edit]

Kelly's official NASA portrait, 2005

NASA selected both Kelly and his identical twin, Scott Kelly, to be Space Shuttle pilots in 1996. They joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in August of that year.[10] They are the only siblings to have both traveled into orbit.[12][13]

### Spaceflight experience

[edit]

#### STS-108

[edit]

Main article: STS-108

STS-108 Commander Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie and Pilot Mark Kelly, in their stations during rendezvous operations with the International Space Station, 2001

Kelly's first trip into space was as pilot of STS-108. After several delays, Endeavour lifted off on December 5, 2001, on the final Shuttle mission of 2001.[14]

STS-108 Endeavour visited the ISS, delivering over three tons of equipment, supplies, and a fresh crew to the orbiting outpost.[10] The hatches were opened between Endeavour and the ISS Destiny Laboratory on December 7, enabling the 10 crew members to greet one another. The Expedition 3 crew officially ended their 117-day residency on board the ISS on December 8 as their custom Soyuz seat-liners were transferred to Endeavour for the return trip home. The transfer of the Expedition 4 seat-liners to the Soyuz return vehicle attached to the station marked the official exchange of crews.[14]

Kelly and Mission Specialist Linda Godwin used the shuttle's robotic arm to lift the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module from the shuttle payload bay and attach it to a berth on the station's Unity node. The crews began unloading supplies the same day. Mission managers extended Endeavour's flight duration to 12 days to allow the crew to assist with additional maintenance tasks on the station, including work on a treadmill and replacing a failed compressor in one of the air conditioners in the Zvezda Service Module. A change of command ceremony took place on December 13 as Expedition 3 ended and Expedition 4 began. STS-108 returned to Earth with the previous ISS crew of three men.[14]

Kelly traveled over 4.8 million miles and orbited the Earth 186 times over 11 days and 19+ hours.[14]

#### STS-121

[edit]

Main article: STS-121

Kelly (center) surrounded by Piers J. Sellers (right), Michael E. Fossum (left), cosmonaut Pavel V. Vinogradov[15] (center left) and Stephanie D. Wilson (center right), 2006

In July 2006, Kelly piloted STS-121 Discovery, the second "Return to Flight" mission after the loss of Columbia in February 2003. Because of weather delays, STS-121 became the first shuttle mission to launch on the Fourth of July.[16] In 2006, Kelly discussed the risks aboard the Space Shuttle:

> The Space Shuttle's a very complex machine. It's got a lot of moving parts that move and operate at pretty much the limit of what we've been able to engineer. Spaceflight is risky. I think with regards to the tank, we've reduced some of the risk there. We've changed the design a little bit and we've made some pretty big strides in trying to get foam not to shed from the tank anymore. So there is some risk reduction there and I guess overall the risk is probably a little less. But this is a risky business, but it's got a big reward. Everybody on board Discovery and the space station here thinks it's worthwhile.[17]

The mission's main purposes were to test new safety and repair techniques introduced after the Columbia disaster and to deliver supplies, equipment, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter from Germany to the ISS. Reiter's transfer returned the ISS to a three-member staffing level.[18]

During the STS-121 mission to the ISS, the crew of Discovery continued to test new equipment and procedures for the inspection and repair of the thermal protection system that is designed to increase the shuttles' safety. It also delivered more supplies and cargo for future ISS expansion.

After the Columbia accident, NASA decided that two test flights would be required and that activities originally assigned to STS-114 would be divided into two missions because of the addition of post-Columbia safety tests.[18]

Gabby Giffords, Kelly's girlfriend at the time, picked one of the mission's wake-up songs, U2's "Beautiful Day".[19] During the U2 360° Tour, Kelly often appeared on screen from the International Space Station during the song's introduction, greeting the city the band was playing in and asking the crowd to "tell my wife I love her very much, she knows"[20]—a reference to David Bowie's "Space Oddity"; the tour's staging was often called the "space station".[21]

Kelly traveled over 5.28 million miles and orbited the Earth 202 times over 12 days and 18+ hours.[10]

#### STS-124

[edit]

Main article: STS-124

Commander Kelly with his crew at the Kennedy Space Center just before boarding Discovery on May 31, 2008

STS-124 Discovery was Kelly's first mission as commander. A month before liftoff, he discussed what being a shuttle commander entailed and how it was different from his previous missions:

> My first two flights I was the pilot. Being the commander is different in that you're responsible for the overall mission. ... You have to worry about the whole thing, the training drill your other crew members are getting, mission success, and mission safety. So it is a more comprehensive job and requires more time. I'm really a little bit surprised at how much more there is to it. But I think it's more rewarding as well.[22]

The mission was the second of three shuttle missions to carry components of Japan's Kibo laboratory to the ISS. Kibo is Japanese for "hope". The laboratory is Japan's primary contribution to the ISS.[23]

Just before liftoff, Kelly said, "While we've all prepared for this event today, the discoveries from Kibo will definitely offer hope for tomorrow. Now stand by for the greatest show on Earth."[24]

During the launch, Launch Pad 39A sustained substantial damage, more than had been seen on any previous launch. After liftoff, inspectors discovered that bricks and mortar from the launch pad's base had been thrown as far as the perimeter fence, a distance of 1,500 feet (457 m).[25]

Kelly and his crew delivered the pressurized module for Kibo to the ISS. The module is the Kibo laboratory's largest component and the station's largest habitable module.[23] Discovery also delivered Kibo's Remote Manipulator System.[23] It also delivered a replacement part for the station's toilet. The ISS's toilet had been malfunctioning for a week, creating a potentially serious problem for the crew.[26] When Kelly first entered the station, he joked, "You looking for a plumber?"[26]

This mission was the first time a spouse of a member of Congress traveled to space.[27] Kelly traveled over 5.7 million miles, and orbited the Earth 218 times over 13 days and 18 hours.[10] As of 2009, Kelly had logged over 54 days in space overall.[10]

#### STS-134

[edit]

Main article: STS-134

Mission poster, based on a Star Trek promotional poster[28]

STS-134 launched on May 16, 2011.

On April 29, 2011, the first launch attempt of STS-134 was scrubbed. Giffords traveled to Florida on her first trip since moving from Tucson to Houston in January after an attempted assassination. Her appearance at Kennedy Space Center gave the launch a high profile, "one of the most anticipated in years," according to The New York Times. President Barack Obama visited the Kennedy Space Center on April 29 on a trip with the original intention of watching the Endeavour launch.[29]

Kelly was the commander of the mission, which was Endeavour's last.[30] He and his crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the ISS.[31]

Most of the mission's delays were caused by external tank issues on STS-133 Discovery.[32] When Scott Kelly went to the ISS on October 7, 2010, STS-134 was scheduled to go to the station during his mission. The potential rendezvous in space of the Kelly brothers would have been a first meeting of blood relatives in space.[33] The delay of STS-134's launch ended that possibility.

After his wife's shooting, Kelly's status was unclear, but NASA announced on February 4, 2011, that he would remain commander of the mission. The remarkable progress his wife was making in her recovery helped Kelly decide to return to training.[34] Peggy Whitson, chief of the NASA Astronaut Office at the time, said, "we are confident in his ability to successfully lead this mission, and I know I speak for all of NASA in saying 'welcome back.'"[35]

#### Papal blessing

[edit]

At 4 pm PDT on May 22, 2011, the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency arranged for a call to Endeavour by Pope Benedict XVI. During his call—prompted by the discovery of a gash in the Shuttle's fuselage—Benedict extended his blessing to Giffords, who had undergone skull surgery earlier in the week. The event marked the first time a pope spoke to astronauts during a mission.[36][37]

#### U2

[edit]

On June 24, 2011, a recorded message by Kelly from the ISS wished his wife love using song lyrics from David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and introduced U2's song "Beautiful Day" on the first night of the Glastonbury festival in England. A similar message from Kelly aboard the ISS was played during U2's 360° Tour concert stop at various locations. It said: "I'm looking forward to coming home. Tell my wife I love her very much. She knows."[38]

### Retirement

[edit]

On June 21, 2011, Kelly announced that he would leave NASA's astronaut corps and the U.S. Navy effective October 1\. He cited Giffords's needs during her recovery as a reason for his retirement.[2] He announced his retirement on his Facebook page, writing: "Words cannot convey my deep gratitude for the opportunities I have been given to serve our great nation. From the day I entered the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the summer of 1982 to the moment I landed the Space Shuttle Endeavour three weeks ago, it has been my privilege to advance the ideals that define the United States of America."[39]

## Post-NASA career (2011–2016)

[edit]

### Author

[edit]

In 2011, Kelly and Giffords coauthored Gabby: A Story of Courage, Love and Resilience. The book provides biographical information on the couple and describes in detail the assassination attempt on Giffords and her initial recovery. Written in Kelly's voice, it includes a short note by Giffords at the end.[40]

Kelly's second book, Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story (2012), is a children's book illustrated by C. F. Payne.[41] It was a New York Times number one bestseller[42] and was followed the next year by a sequel, Mousetronaut Goes to Mars.[43]

In 2014, Giffords and Kelly coauthored Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence.[44]

In 2015, Kelly and Martha Freeman co-wrote Astrotwins: Project Blastoff, a fictional story about twins Scott and Mark who build a space capsule in their grandfather's backyard and try to send the first kid into orbit. Kelly dedicated this book to Scott Kelly.[45] The sequel, Astrotwins—Project Rescue, was published in 2016.[46]

### Aerospace work

[edit]

Kelly was a co-founder and strategic advisor of Tucson-based high-altitude balloon near-space exploration company World View Enterprises.[47] He served as Director of Flight Crew Operations beginning in 2013, and was involved in the development of the new craft, as well as its procedures and operations.[48] Chinese company Tencent invested millions into World View between 2013 and 2016.[49] Kelly left World View in 2019, before he started his Senate campaign; as of 2021 he held over $100,000 of World View stocks through a blind trust.[49]

On March 28, 2012, SpaceX announced that Kelly would be part of an independent safety advisory panel composed of leading human spaceflight safety experts.[50]

### Speeches

[edit]

From 2011 to 2016, Kelly delivered paid speeches in the U.S. and in China on behalf of Shaklee, a multi-level marketing distributor of nutritional supplements.[51][52]

Separately, Kelly has also delivered paid speeches to bank Goldman Sachs, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and drug company AmerisourceBergen.[53]

### Political activism

[edit]

In January 2013, weeks after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Kelly and Giffords started a nonprofit political action committee, Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS). The organization's mission is to promote solutions to gun violence with elected officials and the general public. The couple say it supports the Second Amendment while promoting responsible gun ownership and "keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people like criminals, terrorists, and the mentally ill".[54] The group claims that "current gun laws allow private sellers to sell guns without a background check, creating a loophole that provides criminals and the mentally ill easy access to guns".[54] On March 31, 2013, Kelly said, "any bill that does not include a universal background check is a mistake. It's the most common-sense thing we can do to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from having access to weapons."[55] In 2016, ARS merged with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to become Giffords,[56] which besides background checks advocates for red flag laws.[57][58][59][60]

## U.S. Senate (2020–present)

[edit]

### Elections

[edit]

#### 2020 special

[edit]

Main article: 2020 United States Senate special election in Arizona

Kelly at the launch of his U.S. Senate campaign in downtown Phoenix in February 2019

On February 12, 2019, Kelly announced that he would run as a Democrat in the 2020 U.S. Senate special election in Arizona.[61] Kelly looked to unseat incumbent Republican Martha McSally, a fellow veteran who was appointed to the seat shortly after losing the 2018 election for the state's other seat in the Senate to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. The seat was vacated upon John McCain's death on August 25, 2018, and held by Governor Doug Ducey's appointee Jon Kyl until Kyl resigned on December 31, 2018.[61] Kelly declined to accept campaign contributions from corporate political action committees (PACs), but did accept thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from corporate executives and lobbyists.[62][63]

The Associated Press called the race for Kelly on November 4, 2020. His election marks the first time since 1953 that Arizona has had two Democratic senators.[64] As the election was a special election, Kelly took office during the 116th Congress, shortly after Arizona certified its election results on November 30, unlike other senators and representatives elected in 2020, who took office at the opening of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021. Kelly was sworn in at noon on December 2.

Kelly is the fourth retired astronaut to be elected to Congress, after John Glenn, Harrison Schmitt, and Jack Swigert.[65][66][b]

#### 2022

[edit]

Main article: 2022 United States Senate election in Arizona

Kelly won reelection in the November 2022 general election, defeating Republican challenger Blake Masters.[67]

### Tenure

[edit]

Kelly being sworn in as senator from Arizona by Vice President Mike Pence, with his wife, Gabby Giffords

On December 2, 2020, Kelly cast his first Senate vote, a "no" vote on the nomination of Kathryn C. Davis to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.[68] On December 9, Kelly voted "no" on a resolution blocking President Donald Trump from selling $23 billion in drones to the United Arab Emirates. Kelly split his vote by voting yes on another resolution blocking F-35 sales to the UAE. Both resolutions failed.[69]

In the wake of the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack, Kelly said that Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's cabinet "have the responsibility to discuss invoking the 25th amendment", Section 4 of which allows the vice president and cabinet to declare the president unable to serve and transfer presidential power to the vice president. Kelly voted to convict in Trump's second impeachment trial, along with 56 other senators.[70]

In January 2023, three bills regarding Indian tribes, introduced by Kelly and fellow Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, were signed into law by President Joe Biden.[71] One bill regarding the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act allocated more federal money and time to build water infrastructure for the White Mountain Apache Tribe.[71] A second bill, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act, permitted the Colorado River Indian Tribes (the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo) to begin leasing out parts of the Colorado River they were allocated, while a third bill, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, allocated part of the Colorado River to the Hualapai tribe, so that water infrastructure can deliver water to the tribe.[71]

During the 117th Congress, Kelly co-sponsored several legislative bills that were supported by both parties and became law; these bills included those on the topics of mandating de-escalation training for law enforcement, updating ocean shipping governance, combating human trafficking, and reimbursing people suffering from radiation from atomic weapon tests; during the 118th Congress, Kelly co-sponsored the bipartisan END FENTANYL Act, passed in 2023. The law requires United States Customs and Border Protection to refresh its interdiction procedures at least every three years to mitigate advances in narcotics and human trafficking across the U.S. southern border.[72]

### Committee assignments

[edit]

* Committee on Armed Services[73]
* Subcommittee on Airland[74]
* Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (chairman)[74]
* Committee on Energy and Natural Resources[75] (until October 17, 2023)
* Subcommittee on National Parks[76]
* Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining[77]
* Subcommittee on Water and Power[78]
* Committee on Environment and Public Works[79]
* Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight[80]
* Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife[81]
* Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure[82]
* Special Committee on Aging[83]
* Joint Economic Committee[84]

## Political positions

[edit]

Kelly with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chuck Schumer on October 15, 2023

Kelly ran as a moderate in 2020 and voiced support for bipartisanship.[85][86][87] Since joining the Senate, he supported abolishing the filibuster in order to pass voting rights legislation[88] and a federal minimum wage increase to $15 per hour. He has criticized Joe Biden's approach to border security.[89][90] As of October 2022, Kelly has voted in line with Biden's stated position 94.5% of the time.[91]

### Abortion

[edit]

As a candidate in 2020, Kelly said he was "pro-choice" and was endorsed by Planned Parenthood.[92] He supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.[93] He has said that late-stage abortions should be legally protected.[94]

### Climate and environment

[edit]

Kelly has voiced support for climate action, but said he "does not favor" the Green New Deal.[95] The League of Conservation Voters gave him a 97% score in 2021.[96] In a 2021 Greenpeace exposé,[97] Kelly was one of 11 U.S. senators ExxonMobil Senior Director for Federal Relations Keith McCoy called "crucial" to the company.[98] Kelly has received funding from ExxonMobil lobbyists.[99] In 2022, he advocated for an expansion of oil drilling in the wake of rising gas prices.[100][101]

### Guns

[edit]

Kelly became an outspoken advocate for gun control after the attempted assassination of his wife, former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, at the 2011 Tucson shooting.[102]

Kelly voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas.[103][104]

### Health care

[edit]

Kelly supports building on the Affordable Care Act to include a public health insurance option.[102][105] He opposes Medicare for All.[106]

### Immigration

[edit]

Kelly has expressed support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, saying, "Dreamers are as American as anyone."[107][92] In July 2024, he blamed Donald Trump for sinking a bipartisan border bill.[108]

### Donald Trump

[edit]

In February 2021, Kelly voted to convict Trump for incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial,[70] and has been outspoken in his disdain for him.[109]

## Personal life

[edit]

Kelly married Amelia Victoria Babis on January 7, 1989. They divorced in 2004. They have two daughters, Claudia and Claire Kelly.[110]

Kelly and his wife, Gabby Giffords, in 2016

Kelly married U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords of Tucson on November 10, 2007, in a ceremony presided over by Rabbi Stephanie Aaron and attended by his STS-124 shuttle crew and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. Reich toasted: "To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour."[19] The couple met on a 2003 trip to China as part of a trade mission sponsored by the National Committee on U.S.–China Relations.[111]

At the time of their marriage, Kelly lived in Houston, Texas,[112] and said that the longest stretch of time the two had spent together was a couple of weeks. He said that they did not plan to always live that way, but that it was what they were used to. He added, "It teaches you not to sweat the small stuff."[19]

Kelly appeared on an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2015.[113]

### Shooting in Tucson

[edit]

Main article: 2011 Tucson shooting

Giffords was shot in an assassination attempt on January 8, 2011,[114] which killed six people and brought national attention to Kelly.[115][116] On February 4, Kelly described the previous month as the hardest time of his life[117] and expressed his gratitude for the enormous outpouring of support, good wishes and prayers for his wife. He said that he believed people's prayers for her helped.[118]

One of Giffords's aides informed Kelly of the shooting almost immediately after it happened. He flew from Houston to Tucson with members of his family. En route, the Kellys received an erroneous news report that Giffords had died. "The kids, Claudia and Claire, started crying. My mother, she almost screamed. I just walked into the bathroom, and, you know, broke down." Calling family in Tucson, Kelly found out that the report was false and that she was alive and in surgery. "It was a terrible mistake," Kelly said. "As bad as it was that she had died, it's equally exciting that she hadn't."[119]

From the time he arrived in Tucson, Kelly sat vigil at his wife's bedside as she struggled to survive and began to recover. As her condition began to improve, the Kelly-Giffords family researched options for rehabilitation facilities and chose one in Houston. On January 21, Giffords was transferred to the Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center,[120] where she spent five days before moving to TIRR Memorial Hermann, where she continued her recovery and rehabilitation.[121]

Giffords and Kelly had spoken dozens of times about how risky her job was. She was afraid that someone with a gun would come up to her at a public event. In an interview filmed just over a week after the shooting, Kelly said, "She has Tombstone, Arizona, in her district, the town that's too tough to die. Gabrielle Giffords is too tough to let this beat her."[119]

#### Aftermath

[edit]

Kelly and homeland security secretary and former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano at the Tucson memorial service

A memorial service for those killed in the assassination attempt was held on January 12, 2011, at the University of Arizona. President Obama flew to Tucson to speak at the memorial. Kelly sat between First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona. At the end of the service, Obama consoled and embraced him, after which Kelly returned to the hospital to be with his wife.[122]

Kelly spoke on February 3, 2011, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. His remarks closed the event, where Obama also spoke. Kelly said the attack on his wife brought him closer to God and gave him a newfound awareness regarding prayer. He said that before the attack, "I thought the world just spins and the clock just ticks and things happen for no particular reason", but that, in Tucson, as he found himself wandering in makeshift memorials and shrines filled with Bibles and angels, "You pray where you are. You pray when God is there in your heart."[123] Kelly offered the final prayer of the morning, lightly adapted by Rabbi Stephanie Aaron from a traditional bedtime prayer. Rabbi Aaron, who married Kelly and Giffords, had said the same words over Giffords on the night of the shooting:

> In the name of God, our God of Israel, may Michael, God's angel messenger of compassion, watch over your right side. May Gabriel, God's angel messenger of strength and courage, be on your left. And before you, guiding your path, Uriel, God's angel of light and behind you, supporting you, stands Raphael, God's angel of healing. And over your head, surrounding you, is the presence of the Divine.[123]

In 2011, Kelly said he believed there was a chance to change a political environment he believed was too vitriolic. He hoped that the tragedy would be an opportunity to improve the tone of the national dialogue and cool down the rhetoric.[119] In response to a question on February 4, 2011, about civility in politics, Kelly said, "I haven't spent a lot of time following that, but I think that with something that was so horrible and so negative, and the fact that six people lost their lives including a nine-year-old girl, a federal judge, Gabby's staff member Gabe—who was like a younger brother to her—it's really, really a sad situation. I am hopeful that something positive can come out of it. I think that will happen, so those are good things."[118]

## Electoral history

[edit]

Year  | Office  | Party  | Primary  | General  | Result  | Swing

|
|
|
|
|
|

Total  | %  | P.  | Total  | %  | ±% | P.
2020 | U.S. Senator |  | Democratic | 665,620  | 99.93%  | 1st  | 1,716,467  | 51.16%  | +10.41%  | 1st  | Won  |  | Gain
2022 |  | Democratic | 589,400  | 100.0%  | 1st  | 1,322,027  | 51.39%  | +0.22%  | 1st  | Won  |  | Hold

## Awards and decorations

[edit]

Kelly's awards and decorations include:[124][125][126]

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |  |
Naval Pilot Astronaut Badge

Defense Superior Service Medal
One oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross
One award star  | Air Medal
Valor device and three service stars
Navy Commendation Medal
Valor device and one service star | Navy Achievement Medal | Navy Unit Commendation
One service star | NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal
Three service stars  | Navy Expeditionary Medal | National Defense Service Medal
One service star  | Southwest Asia Service Medal
One service star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
One service star  | Overseas Service Ribbon | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ a b c "Commander Mark Kelly Announces Retirement From NASA, Navy". Fox News. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
3. ^ "Kysten Sinema will not seek re-election". BBC News. March 5, 2024.
4. ^ Seitz-Wald, Alex; Alcindor, Yamiche; Alba, Monica (August 6, 2023). "Big dad energy: How Harris got to Walz". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
5. ^ "Mark Kelly deletes tweet that fueled speculation about VP race". The Hill. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
6. ^ Cruikshank, Jeffrey L.; Kline, Chloë G. (2008). In peace and war: a history of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. John Wiley and Sons. p. 530\. ISBN 978-0-470-13601-0. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
7. ^ Lehren, Marilyn (January 8, 2011). "Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is married to West Orange native Mark Kelly". The Caldwells Patch. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
8. ^ Rose, Lisa (March 30, 2019). "Twin astronauts remember their mother, West Orange's first female police officer". NJ.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
9. ^ "Kelly named among top 100 Irish Americans by Irish America/Irish Central". Gabrielle Giffords. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Biographical Data: Mark E. Kelly (Captain, USN)" (PDF). NASA. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
11. ^ "Astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of Gabrielle Giffords, retires from Navy". CNN. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
12. ^ 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.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ a b c d "NASA Mission Archives, STS-108". NASA. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
15. ^ Expedition 13 commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency.
16. ^ Boyle, Alan (July 4, 2006). "NASA counts down to 4th of July launch". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
17. ^ "Transcript of Associated Press Interview via NASA". AP and NASA. July 11, 2006. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
18. ^ a b "STS-121 Nasa Press Kit" (PDF). NASA. May 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
19. ^ a b c Anderson, Judith (December 2, 2007). "Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
20. ^ Clara Moskowitz (June 8, 2011). "Astronaut Mark Kelly Has David Bowie Moment in U2 Concert". Space.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
21. ^ Hiatt, Brian (April 11, 2011). "U2: Launching the Biggest Tour of All". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
22. ^ Preflight Interview: Mark Kelly, Commander Archived February 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, NASA, April 29, 2008.
23. ^ a b c "NASA Mission Summary, STS-124" (PDF). NASA. May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
24. ^ Moskowitz, Clara (May 31, 2008). "Shuttle Discovery Launches Space Station's Largest Lab". Space.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
25. ^ Moskowitz, Clara (June 2, 2008). "NASA Eyes Launch Pad Damage for Next Shuttle Flight". Space.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
26. ^ a b Schwartz, John (June 15, 2008). "Shuttle Returns After 14-Day Mission". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
27. ^ Faherty, John (June 1, 2008). "Congresswoman's husband now in orbit". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
28. ^ Atkinson, Nancy (March 17, 2010). "STS-134 Does Star Trek with New Poster". universetoday.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
29. ^ Fountain, Henry (April 26, 2011). "In Endeavour's Final Act, the Supporting Cast Draws Outsize Attention". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
30. ^ 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.
31. ^ NASA Assigns Crew for STS-134 Shuttle Mission, Change to STS-132 Archived December 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine NASA press release, August 11, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
32. ^ Harwood, William (January 15, 2011). "Shuttle Discovery's lead spacewalker hurt in accident". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
33. ^ Dunn, Marcia (September 10, 2010). "Space double: Astronaut twins to join up in orbit". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
34. ^ Dunn, Marcia (February 4, 2011). "Husband: Giffords would embrace flight decision". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
35. ^ "NASA Astronaut Mark Kelly Resumes Training For STS-134 Mission". NASA Press release. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
36. ^ "Pope blesses Endeavour astronauts by phone". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
37. ^ "Talk of His Holiness Benedict XVI with the Astronauts in Orbit". The Vatican. May 21, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
38. ^ "NASA Commander Mark Kelly appears at U2 360° Tour in Seattle". Politics Down and Dirty blog. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
39. ^ "Astronaut Mark Kelly announces his retirement – KTRK, ABC Channel 13, Houston, Texas". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
40. ^ Giffords, Gabrielle; Kelly, Mark; Zaslow, Jeffrey (November 15, 2011). Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope. Scribner. ISBN 978-1451661064.
41. ^ Kelly, Mark (October 9, 2012). Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. ISBN 978-1442458246.
42. ^ "Best Sellers". The New York Times. October 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
43. ^ "Mousetronaut Goes to Mars by Mark Kelly, C. F. Payne". Barnesandnoble.com llc. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
44. ^ Giffords, Gabrielle; Kelly, Mark (September 30, 2014). Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence. Scribner. ISBN 978-1476750071.
45. ^ Kelly, Mark; Freeman, Martha (March 17, 2015). Astrotwins: Project Blastoff. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. ISBN 978-1481415453.
46. ^ Kelly, Mark; Freeman, Martha (March 1, 2016). Astrotwins: Project Rescue. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. ISBN 978-1481424585.
47. ^ "World View:Our Team". Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
48. ^ Knapp, Alex. "Astronaut Mark Kelly Joins Near-Space Tourism Company World View". Forbes.
49. ^ a b Dress, Brad (August 2, 2024). "Mark Kelly's past surveillance balloon venture presents political target". The Hill. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
50. ^ "Industry Leaders Lend Expertise As Company Prepares for Astronaut Flight". Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
51. ^ Robillard, Kevin (April 22, 2019). "Mark Kelly Was A Pitchman For A Multi-Level Marketing Company Selling Supplements". HuffPost. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
52. ^ Razdan, Khushboo (August 2, 2024). "Possible running mate for Kamala Harris attacked for promotional video in China". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
53. ^ Lacy, Akela (March 5, 2019). "Mark Kelly's Yearslong Corporate Speaking Tour Clashes With "No Corporate PAC Money" Pledge". The Intercept. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
54. ^ a b "Criminal Background Checks". Americans for Responsible Solutions. April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
55. ^ Edwards-Levy, Ariel (April 3, 2013). "Mark Kelly: Background Checks Are Crucial, But NRA 'Right' On Mental Health Records". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
56. ^ "About Giffords: History". Giffords. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
57. ^ 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.
58. ^ 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.
59. ^ "Gabrielle Giffords launches gun control campaign". BBC News. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
60. ^ 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.
61. ^ a b Stracqualursi, Veronica (February 12, 2019). "NASA astronaut Mark Kelly launches Senate campaign". CNN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
62. ^ Bowman, Bridget (April 26, 2019). "Mark Kelly's fundraising highlights limits of 'no corporate PAC' pledge". Roll Call. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
63. ^ Sanchez, Yvonne Wingett (April 15, 2019). "Mark Kelly shuns corporate PACs. But his ties with corporate money were more complicated". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
64. ^ Felicia, Somnez (December 2, 2020). "Mark Kelly sworn in as senator, giving Arizona two Democratic senators for first time in more than six decades". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
65. ^ "Mark Kelly joins exclusive club of astronaut-politicians". AP NEWS. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
66. ^ Machemer, Theresa (November 9, 2020). "A Brief History of Astronauts in Congress". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
67. ^ Lerer, Lisa; Igielnik, Ruth (October 31, 2022). "Senate Control Hinges on Neck-and-Neck Races, Times/Siena Poll Finds". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
68. ^ Hunter, Chase (December 10, 2020). "Kelly takes oath, casts first vote as Arizona's newest senator". The Glendale Star.
69. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (December 9, 2020). "Trump on course to complete UAE arms deal after Senate fails to block him". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
70. ^ a b Hansen, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ronald J. (January 7, 2021). "Sen. Mark Kelly open to removing President Trump after riot; Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has no comment". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
71. ^ a b c Krol, Debra (January 6, 2023). "Biden signs bills that secure long-sought water rights and land for 5 Arizona tribes". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
72. ^ L'Heureux, TJ (July 25, 2024). "Who is Mark Kelly? Get to know Kamala Harris' potential VP pick". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
73. ^ "About | U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
74. ^ a b "Subcommittees | U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
75. ^ "Members | U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
76. ^ "Subcommittee on National Parks| U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
77. ^ "Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining | U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
78. ^ "Subcommittee on Water and Power| U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
79. ^ "Members | U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
80. ^ "Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight | U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
81. ^ "Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife | U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
82. ^ "Transportation and Infrastructure | U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
83. ^ "Committee Members | U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging". Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
84. ^ "About | Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
85. ^ Christie, Bob (November 13, 2020). "Senator-elect Mark Kelly says bipartisanship a real mission". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
86. ^ "Mark Kelly won as a moderate. His future depends on whether he stays one". azcentral. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
87. ^ Egan, Lauren; Gregorian, Dareh (November 6, 2020). "Democrat Mark Kelly defeats Republican Martha McSally in Arizona Senate race". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
88. ^ Fox, Lauren (January 19, 2022). "Mark Kelly backs rules change to pass voting rights legislation". CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
89. ^ Strauss, Daniel (May 18, 2021). "Arizona's political odd couple reveals two distinct paths for Democrats". the Guardian. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
90. ^ Everett, Burgess (April 5, 2022). "Mark Kelly's breaks with Biden pile up". Politico. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
91. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (August 25, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
92. ^ a b "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
93. ^ Duda, Jeremy (October 7, 2022). "Sen. Kelly, Blake Masters spar over abortion and inflation in debate". Axios. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
94. ^ Thompson, Julia (October 7, 2022). "Mark Kelly, Blake Masters debate: U.S. Senate candidates clash on immigration, abortion". Cronkite News - Arizona PBS. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
95. ^ Fahys, Judy. "Climate issues confront Arizona, but aren't always raised in McSally-Kelly Senate race". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
96. ^ "Check out Senator Mark Kelly's Environmental Voting Record". League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. February 14, 2022. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
97. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/07/02/exxon-climate-change-video-leaked/
98. ^ |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/revealed-exxonmobils-lobbying-war-on-climate-change-legislation/
99. ^ |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/07/13/campaign-disclosures-show-senate-dems-exxonmobil-expose-got-almost-333000
100. ^ "Mark Kelly's breaks with Biden pile up". POLITICO. April 5, 2022. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
101. ^ Olson, Tyler (March 31, 2022). "Democratic Sens. Kelly, Manchin press Biden over Gulf oil leases". Fox News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
102. ^ a b Brean, Henry (October 4, 2020). "McSally, Kelly: Similar backgrounds, wildly different views". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
103. ^ ""This was fundamentally important": John Cornyn says gun deal shows U.S. Senate can still function". June 27, 2022. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
104. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session". Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
105. ^ Zhou, Li (September 24, 2020). "Can Democrats pull off another Senate win in Arizona?". Vox. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
106. ^ "'People have a right to affordable health care': Mark Kelly says in 1st live interview". April 15, 2019.
107. ^ "Mark Kelly holds town hall on DACA". 12 News. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
108. ^ Concepcion, Summer (July 31, 2024). "Sen. Mark Kelly rips Trump over role in killing bipartisan border bill". NBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
109. ^ Hansen, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ronald J. "Sen. Mark Kelly open to removing President Trump after riot; Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has no comment". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
110. ^ Sands, Geneva (November 22, 2011). "Mark Kelly and daughters describe Giffords's injury aftermath, recovery". TheHill. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
111. ^ Golodryga, Bianna; Orso, Alberto; Hagan, Kelly (January 11, 2011). "Gabrielle Giffords Makes Strong Recovery as Husband Mark Kelly Keeps Vigil". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
112. ^ Shauk, Zain (January 25, 2011). "Gabrielle Giffords' husband considers shuttle flight". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
113. ^ Robert Z. Pearlman (May 13, 2015). "'What is Pluto?' How Astronaut Mark Kelly Fared on Celebrity Jeopardy!". Space.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
114. ^ Lacey, Marc; Herszenhorn, David M. (January 9, 2011). "In Attack's Wake, Political Repercussions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
115. ^ 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.
116. ^ 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.
117. ^ "Giffords' husband says attempt on her life deepened his faith". Deccan Herald. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
118. ^ a b "Kelly to Fly on Shuttle Mission". NASA TV. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
119. ^ a b c Blackburn, Bradley (January 18, 2011). "Gabrielle Giffords' Husband Mark Kelly Says She Feared She Would Be Shot". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
120. ^ Stanglin, Douglas (January 21, 2011). "Giffords arrives in Houston to begin rehab". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
121. ^ "U.S. Rep. Giffords moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann". Associated Press. January 26, 2011. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
122. ^ Cooper, Helene (January 12, 2011). "Obama Calls for a New Era of Civility in U.S. Politics". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
123. ^ a b Grossman, Cathy Lynn (February 4, 2011). "Mark Kelly finds God, angels after Tucson tragedy". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
124. ^ Kelly, Mark (July 2011). "Biographical Data" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
125. ^ "Mark E. Kelly '86". www.usmmaalumni.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
126. ^ May 2008, NASA Archives 15 (May 15, 2008). "Astronaut Biography: Mark E. Kelly". Space.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ After the 2018 death of Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, McCain's term was completed by Republicans Jon Kyl and Martha McSally.
2. ^ Swigert was elected to Congress, but never served, dying a week before he would have taken office.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Interview with Discovery crew Archived November 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, July 11, 2006
* Launch of STS-124 Discovery Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, May 31, 2008, includes link to video of launch
* Statement from Mark Kelly, January 10, 2011, Kelly's first public statement after the shooting of his wife
* Kelly's Interview with Diane Sawyer, January 2011, ABC News video
* Kelly's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, February 3, 2011, CBS News video.
* Kelly to Fly on Shuttle Mission, February 4, 2011, NASA Press Conference with Mark Kelly, Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett, NASA TV

## External links

[edit]

Mark Kelly at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* News from Wikinews
* Quotations from Wikiquote
* Texts from Wikisource
* Data from Wikidata

* Senator Mark Kelly official U.S. Senate website
* Mark Kelly for U.S. Senate Archived May 8, 2021, at the Wayback Machine campaign website
* Mark Kelly at TED
* Appearances on C-SPAN

* Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
* Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
* Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
* Profile at Vote Smart

Party political offices

Preceded by

Ann Kirkpatrick

|  Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Arizona
(Class 3)
2020, 2022 | Most recent
U.S. Senate
Preceded by

Martha McSally

|  U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Arizona
2020–present
Served alongside: Kyrsten Sinema, Ruben Gallego | Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

Kyrsten Sinema

as United States Senator from Arizona  |  Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator from Arizona}
since December 2, 2020  | Succeeded by

Bill Hagerty

as United States Senator from Tennessee
Preceded by

Rick Scott

|  United States senators by seniority
81st  | Succeeded by

Ben Ray Luján

* v
* t
* e

Mark Kelly

* U.S. Senator from Arizona (2020-present)
* NASA Astronaut (1996-2011)

NASA|

* NASA Astronaut Group 16
* Pilot
* STS-108
* STS-121
* Commander
* STS-124
* STS-134
* ISS year-long mission

Political career|

* Gun safety advocacy
* 2011 Tucson shooting
* Americans for Responsible Solutions
* Giffords
* U.S. Senate
* 2020 special election
* 2022 election

Family|

* Scott Kelly (twin brother)
* Gabby Giffords (wife)

* v
* t
* e

Current United States senators

President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Patty Murray (D)

* AL:

▌ Tuberville (R)

▌ Britt (R)

* AK:

▌ Murkowski (R)

▌ Sullivan (R)

* AZ:

▌ Sinema (I)

▌ Kelly (D)

* AR:

▌ Boozman (R)

▌ Cotton (R)

* CA:

▌ Padilla (D)

▌ Butler (D)

* CO:

▌ Bennet (D)

▌ Hickenlooper (D)

* CT:

▌ Blumenthal (D)

▌ Murphy (D)

* DE:

▌ Carper (D)

▌ Coons (D)

* FL:

▌ Rubio (R)

▌ R. Scott (R)

* GA:

▌ Ossoff (D)

▌ Warnock (D)

* HI:

▌ Schatz (D)

▌ Hirono (D)

* ID:

▌ Crapo (R)

▌ Risch (R)

* IL:

▌ Durbin (D)

▌ Duckworth (D)

* IN:

▌ Young (R)

▌ Braun (R)

* IA:

▌ Grassley (R)

▌ Ernst (R)

* KS:

▌ Moran (R)

▌ Marshall (R)

* KY:

▌ McConnell (R)

▌ Paul (R)

* LA:

▌ Cassidy (R)

▌ Kennedy (R)

* ME:

▌ Collins (R)

▌ King (I)

* MD:

▌ Cardin (D)

▌ Van Hollen (D)

* MA:

▌ Warren (D)

▌ Markey (D)

* MI:

▌ Stabenow (D)

▌ Peters (D)

* MN:

▌ Klobuchar (D)

▌ Smith (D)

* MS:

▌ Wicker (R)

▌ Hyde-Smith (R)

* MO:

▌ Hawley (R)

▌ Schmitt (R)

* MT:

▌ Tester (D)

▌ Daines (R)

* NE:

▌ Fischer (R)

▌ Ricketts (R)

* NV:

▌ Cortez Masto (D)

▌ Rosen (D)

* NH:

▌ Shaheen (D)

▌ Hassan (D)

* NJ:

▌ Booker (D)

▌ Helmy (D)

* NM:

▌ Heinrich (D)

▌ Luján (D)

* NY:

▌ Schumer (D)

▌ Gillibrand (D)

* NC:

▌ Tillis (R)

▌ Budd (R)

* ND:

▌ Hoeven (R)

▌ Cramer (R)

* OH:

▌ Brown (D)

▌ Vance (R)

* OK:

▌ Lankford (R)

▌ Mullin (R)

* OR:

▌ Wyden (D)

▌ Merkley (D)

* PA:

▌ Casey (D)

▌ Fetterman (D)

* RI:

▌ Reed (D)

▌ Whitehouse (D)

* SC:

▌ Graham (R)

▌ T. Scott (R)

* SD:

▌ Thune (R)

▌ Rounds (R)

* TN:

▌ Blackburn (R)

▌ Hagerty (R)

* TX:

▌ Cornyn (R)

▌ Cruz (R)

* UT:

▌ Lee (R)

▌ Romney (R)

* VT:

▌ Sanders (I)

▌ Welch (D)

* VA:

▌ Warner (D)

▌ Kaine (D)

* WA:

▌ Murray (D)

▌ Cantwell (D)

* WV:

▌ Manchin (I)

▌ Capito (R)

* WI:

▌ Johnson (R)

▌ Baldwin (D)

* WY:

▌ Barrasso (R)

▌ Lummis (R)

* ▌ Republican: 49
* ▌ Democratic: 47
* ▌ Independent: 4

* v
* t
* e

Statewide political officials of Arizona

U.S. senators|

* Kyrsten Sinema
* Mark Kelly

State government|

* Katie Hobbs, Governor
* Adrian Fontes, Secretary of State
* Kris Mayes, Attorney General
* Kimberly Yee, Treasurer
* Tom Horne, Superintendent
* Paul Marsh, Mine Inspector
* Lea Márquez Peterson, Nick Myers, Jim O'Connor, Kevin Thompson, and Anna Tovar, Corporation Commissioners

Senate|

* Warren Petersen, President
* T. J. Shope, President pro tempore
* Sonny Borrelli, Majority Leader
* Mitzi Epstein, Minority Leader

House|

* Ben Toma, Speaker
* Travis Grantham, Speaker pro tempore
* Leo Biasiucci, Majority Leader
* Lupe Contreras, Minority Leader

Supreme Court|

* Ann Timmer, Chief Justice
* John Lopez, Vice Chief Justice
* Clint Bolick
* James Beene
* Bill Montgomery
* Kathryn Hackett King
* 1 seat vacant, Associate Justices

* v
* t
* e

United States senators from Arizona

Class 1|

* Ashurst
* McFarland
* Goldwater
* Fannin
* DeConcini
* Kyl
* Flake
* Sinema

Class 3|

* Smith
* Cameron
* Hayden
* Goldwater
* McCain
* Kyl
* McSally
* Kelly

* v
* t
* e

Arizona's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators|

* ▌Kyrsten Sinema (I)
* ▌Mark Kelly (D)

Representatives
(ordered by district)|

* ▌David Schweikert (R)
* ▌Eli Crane (R)
* ▌Ruben Gallego (D)
* ▌Greg Stanton (D)
* ▌Andy Biggs (R)
* ▌Juan Ciscomani (R)
* ▌Raúl Grijalva (D)
* ▌Debbie Lesko (R)
* ▌Paul Gosar (R)

* v
* t
* e

Arizona's delegation(s) to the 116th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)

| 116th |

Senate:

* ▌K. Sinema (D)
* ▌M. McSally (R)
* ▌M. Kelly (D)

House:

* ▌R. Grijalva (D)
* ▌P. Gosar (R)
* ▌D. Schweikert (R)
* ▌A. Kirkpatrick (D)
* ▌R. Gallego (D)
* ▌A. Biggs (R)
* ▌T. O'Halleran (D)
* ▌D. Lesko (R)
* ▌G. Stanton (D)

|
|

117th |

Senate:

* ▌▌K. Sinema (D/I)
* ▌M. Kelly (D)

House:

* ▌R. Grijalva (D)
* ▌P. Gosar (R)
* ▌D. Schweikert (R)
* ▌A. Kirkpatrick (D)
* ▌R. Gallego (D)
* ▌A. Biggs (R)
* ▌T. O'Halleran (D)
* ▌D. Lesko (R)
* ▌G. Stanton (D)

118th |

Senate:

* ▌K. Sinema (I)
* ▌M. Kelly (D)

House:

* ▌R. Grijalva (D)
* ▌P. Gosar (R)
* ▌D. Schweikert (R)
* ▌R. Gallego (D)
* ▌A. Biggs (R)
* ▌D. Lesko (R)
* ▌G. Stanton (D)
* ▌J. Ciscomani (R)
* ▌E. Crane (R)

* v
* t
* e

NASA Astronaut Group 16, "The Sardines", 1996

NASA Astronaut Group 15 <- NASA Astronaut Group 16 → NASA Astronaut Group 17

Pilots|

* Duane G. Carey
* Stephen Frick
* Charles O. Hobaugh
* James M. Kelly
* Mark Kelly
* Scott Kelly
* Paul Lockhart
* Christopher Loria
* William C. McCool
* Mark L. Polansky

Mission specialists|

* David M. Brown
* Daniel C. Burbank
* Yvonne D. Cagle
* Fernando Caldeiro
* Charles J. Camarda
* Laurel B. Clark
* E. Michael Fincke
* Patrick G. Forrester
* John B. Herrington
* Joan E. Higginbotham
* Sandra H. Magnus
* Michael J. Massimino
* Richard A. Mastracchio
* Lee M. E. Morin
* Lisa M. Nowak
* Donald R. Pettit
* John L. Phillips
* Paul W. Richards
* Piers J. Sellers
* Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
* Daniel M. Tani
* Rex J. Walheim
* Peggy A. Whitson
* Jeffrey N. Williams
* Stephanie D. Wilson

International
mission specialists|

* Pedro Duque (Spain)
* Christer Fuglesang (Sweden)
* Umberto Guidoni (Italy)
* Steven MacLean (Canada)
* Mamoru Mohri (Japan)
* Soichi Noguchi (Japan)
* Julie Payette (Canada)
* Philippe Perrin (France)
* Gerhard Thiele (Germany)

* v
* t
* e

* NASA Astronaut Groups
* NASA Astronaut Corps

Groups|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* 11
* 12
* 13
* 14
* 15
* 16
* 17
* 18
* 19
* 20
* 21
* 22
* 23
* 24

Related|

* List of astronauts by year of selection
* Astronaut ranks and positions
* List of United States Marine Corps astronauts
* List of United States Space Force astronauts

* v
* t
* e

United States Astronaut Hall of Fame

Members|

* Buzz Aldrin
* Joseph P. Allen
* Scott Altman
* William Anders
* Neil Armstrong
* Alan Bean
* John E. Blaha
* Guion Bluford
* Karol J. Bobko
* Charles Bolden
* Frank Borman
* Ken Bowersox
* Vance D. Brand
* Daniel Brandenstein
* Roy Bridges Jr.
* Curtis Brown
* James Buchli
* Robert D. Cabana
* Scott Carpenter
* Gerald Carr
* Gene Cernan
* Roger B. Chaffee
* Franklin Chang-Díaz
* Kevin P. Chilton
* Michael Coats
* Eileen Collins
* Michael Collins
* Pete Conrad
* Gordon Cooper
* Richard O. Covey
* Robert Crippen
* Frank L. Culbertson Jr.
* Walter Cunningham
* Brian Duffy
* Charles Duke
* Bonnie J. Dunbar
* Donn F. Eisele
* Joe Engle
* Ronald Evans
* Christopher Ferguson
* Michael Foale
* C. Gordon Fullerton
* Owen Garriott
* Edward Gibson
* Robert L. Gibson
* John Glenn
* Richard F. Gordon Jr.
* Frederick D. Gregory
* Gus Grissom
* John M. Grunsfeld
* Fred Haise
* Henry Hartsfield
* Frederick Hauck
* Steven Hawley
* Susan Helms
* David C. Hilmers
* Jeffrey A. Hoffman
* James Irwin
* Marsha Ivins
* Thomas David Jones
* Janet L. Kavandi
* Mark Kelly
* Scott Kelly
* Joseph P. Kerwin
* David Leestma
* Steven Lindsey
* Michael López-Alegría
* Jack Lousma
* Jim Lovell
* Shannon Lucid
* Sandra Magnus
* Ken Mattingly
* Bruce McCandless II
* James McDivitt
* Pamela Melroy
* Edgar Mitchell
* Story Musgrave
* George Nelson
* Ellen Ochoa
* Bryan D. O'Connor
* Scott E. Parazynski
* William Pogue
* Charles J. Precourt
* Sally Ride
* Kent Rominger
* Stuart Roosa
* Jerry L. Ross
* Wally Schirra
* Harrison Schmitt
* Rusty Schweickart
* Dick Scobee
* David Scott
* Rhea Seddon
* Brewster H. Shaw
* Alan Shepard
* William Shepherd
* Loren Shriver
* Deke Slayton
* Thomas P. Stafford
* Kathryn D. Sullivan
* Jack Swigert
* Norman Thagard
* Kathryn C. Thornton
* Richard H. Truly
* Paul J. Weitz
* Jim Wetherbee
* Ed White
* Alfred Worden
* John Young

Related|

* Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
* NASA Astronaut Corps
* Astronaut

Portals:

* Biography
* Arizona
* Aviation
* Politics
* Spaceflight
* United States

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Poland

People|

* US Congress

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[P]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template