Arizona Dems endorse Sen. Mark Kelly for Kamala Harris’ VP — even though she has yet to make pick

Sen. Mark Kelly prepares to debate fellow U.S. Senate candidates Blake Masters and Marc Victor at the PBS studio in ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in Phoenix on Oct. 6, 2022. — The Arizona Democratic Party’s executive board decided to back State Sen. Mark Kelly to be Harris’ second-in-command if she is elected to the presidency.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

PHOENIX — The Arizona Democratic Party took the unusual step of endorsing a vice-presidential candidate, even though Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet announced her running mate.

The party’s executive board decided Wednesday to back one of its own, Grand Canyon State Sen. Mark Kelly, to be Harris’ second-in-command if she is elected to the presidency, as reports circulate he is considered one of the top contenders for the job.

“Senator Kelly has been a champion for Arizonans, engaging them in the path towards building a better Arizona and creating a strong and diverse coalition along the way,” Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano stated.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee to on Capitol Hill, in Washington on March 24, 2022 — As Arizona is a border state, the relationship with Mexico plays a critical role in both immigration and trade policy, whether its at the state or federal government level. AP

“Senator Kelly is exactly the type of leader Arizonans want and America needs. The path to the White House runs through Arizona, and we are confident that with Kamala Harris and Mark Kelly at the top of the ticket, Democrats will win in November.”

The party’s endorsement letter asserted the Harris-Kelly pair can develop a “winning coalition” against the GOP ticket of former President Donald Trump and Kelly’s colleague, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

“This is an unprecedented moment for America, but we are confident that we will emerge stronger and more united than ever,” the letter continued.

A source confirmed to The Post the executive board’s decision was unanimous.

The Post reported this week the Harris campaign is vetting Kelly, a former astronaut and Navy veteran, as a possible running mate, along with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

Many of the top candidates are in swing states, including Kelly, who could help Democrats win Arizona’s 11 coveted electoral votes.

Sen. Mark Kelly greets attendees before giving his victory speech on Nov. 12, 2022, in Phoenix — Mark Kelly is an astronaut and the husband of former Ariz. Rep. Gabby Giffords. Antranik Tavitian/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

“This election is a choice between moving our country forward with Vice President [Kamala Harris], or sliding backwards under Trump-Vance,” Kelly tweeted Tuesday in support of Harris’ candidacy. “We must move forward.”

Kelly’s team declined to comment on the endorsement. The senator was first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2022.

He is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords.

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