2020 AZ Senate Megathread: Kelly's Race to Lose

[Skye]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Haven't been following much about this race. Is this guy considered to be a top contender?

[Zaybay]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Haven't been following much about this race. Is this guy considered to be a top contender?

I would say Yes and No. Kelly is the husband of the famous Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and is an astronaut. He has, potentially, a large appeal. Unfortunately, the guy isnt really known outside of being the husband to Giffords, and hasnt really made any positions on policy or politics. Basically, he has the potential to be the biggest letdown, or best candidate(From what Ive read, Im leaning towards letdown).

It does look like this will trigger a battle between Gallego and Kelly for the nom.

[DaWN]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Haven't been following much about this race. Is this guy considered to be a top contender?

I would say Yes and No. Kelly is the husband of the famous Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and is an astronaut. He has, potentially, a large appeal. Unfortunately, the guy isnt really known outside of being the husband to Giffords, and hasnt really made any positions on policy or politics. Basically, he has the potential to be the biggest letdown, or best candidate(From what Ive read, Im leaning towards letdown).

It does look like this will trigger a battle between Gallego and Kelly for the nom.

Agreed except for the bolded, I'm leaning towards 'best candidate' for now. Always the chance he could flame out, but he's certainly not to be underestimated.

[TheBeardedOne]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Haven't been following much about this race. Is this guy considered to be a top contender?

I would say Yes and No. Kelly is the husband of the famous Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and is an astronaut. He has, potentially, a large appeal. Unfortunately, the guy isnt really known outside of being the husband to Giffords, and hasnt really made any positions on policy or politics. Basically, he has the potential to be the biggest letdown, or best candidate(From what Ive read, Im leaning towards letdown).

It does look like this will trigger a battle between Gallego and Kelly for the nom.

I could see Greg Stanton getting in the race as well.

[Zaybay]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Haven't been following much about this race. Is this guy considered to be a top contender?

I would say Yes and No. Kelly is the husband of the famous Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and is an astronaut. He has, potentially, a large appeal. Unfortunately, the guy isnt really known outside of being the husband to Giffords, and hasnt really made any positions on policy or politics. Basically, he has the potential to be the biggest letdown, or best candidate(From what Ive read, Im leaning towards letdown).

It does look like this will trigger a battle between Gallego and Kelly for the nom.

I could see Greg Stanton getting in the race as well.

Stanton said he isnt seeking higher office earlier this year, and Woods dropped the idea entirely. It looks like this will be a battle between the two.

[ajc0918]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Good intro video.

[Cold War Liberal]

Kelly’s not unknown, both of the Kelly twins are quite famous outside politics. Actually, I’d heard of Mark Kelly before I ever even knew who Gabby Giffords was.

Anyway, endorsed!

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Kelly’s not unknown, both of the Kelly twins are quite famous outside politics. Actually, I’d heard of Mark Kelly before I ever even knew who Gabby Giffords was.

Anyway, endorsed!

GO KELLY!

[RogueBeaver]

https://twitter.com/RubenGallego/status/1095328100987125760

[brucejoel99]

Kelly's in.

https://kvoa.com/news/2019/02/12/mark-kelly-announces-run-for-u-s-senate/

Go Kelly go, go go Kelly go. Go Kelly go, go go Kelly!

[Zaybay]

Yep, looks like this is shaping up to be a Gallego vs Kelly fight.

[pppolitics]

...can't wait to see McSally ads about how Kelly is a bad astronaut who endangered the rest of the crew and caused NASA money

[Alabama_Indy10]

I think Kelly will be a very strong candidate.

[Sestak]

How do Kelly’s views differ from Gallego’s? Do we actually know where he falls ideologically?


I guess we do need a new Senate Astronaut lol.

[History505]

I think Kelly will be a very strong candidate.

[Sir Mohamed]

I think Kelly will be a very strong candidate.

Yup. Good to see Grant Woods is out. The dude is uninspiring and, if even elected, would have been another Manchin Fake Dem.

[pppolitics]

Endorsed!

Changed my signature

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Lean D --> Likely D

Mark Kelly is the best candidate imaginable for this race and likely the best recruit for either side of the cycle.

[Breton Racer]

Mark Kelly is, possibly, the best candidate Democrats in Arizona could have hoped for. He is rather well known in the state and country already, will likely be able to fundraise easily and has a great life story. I don’t see Gallego beating him in the primary. My best bet, he beats McSally by ~5-7% and helps the Dem presidential candidate win the state.

[QAnonKelly]

Awesome! Glad to see there good recruitment from last cycle carry over to this cycle.

[pppolitics]

Mark Kelly is, possibly, the best candidate Democrats in Arizona could have hoped for. He is rather well known in the state and country already, will likely be able to fundraise easily and has a great life story. I don’t see Gallego beating him in the primary. My best bet, he beats McSally by ~5-7% and helps the Dem presidential candidate win the state.

Gallego might not even run.

He has a nice safe seat that he would have to give up and probably worse than 50% shot of winning the primary against Kelly.

[Zaybay]

Wow, the hype machine has already started for a man better known as the spouse of Giffords. The primary is in a year and a 1/2, and due to this, I cannot be confident in who will win the nomination, but Kelly is in no way guaranteed it, or the strongest possible candidate(seriously, it seems that if you like a candidate, they become the strongest candidate imaginable).

[_]

Well I want to see what Gallego does, and I think I'll be ideologically closer to him, but Kelly's got a good launch it seems.

[Zaybay]

Mark Kelly is, possibly, the best candidate Democrats in Arizona could have hoped for. He is rather well known in the state and country already, will likely be able to fundraise easily and has a great life story. I don’t see Gallego beating him in the primary. My best bet, he beats McSally by ~5-7% and helps the Dem presidential candidate win the state.

Gallego might not even run.

He has a nice safe seat that he would have to give up and probably worse than 50% shot of winning the primary against Kelly.

You are incredibly overconfident about a primary that will take place a 1 year and a 1/2 from now.

[JMT]

Mark Kelly is, possibly, the best candidate Democrats in Arizona could have hoped for. He is rather well known in the state and country already, will likely be able to fundraise easily and has a great life story. I don’t see Gallego beating him in the primary. My best bet, he beats McSally by ~5-7% and helps the Dem presidential candidate win the state.

Gallego might not even run.

He has a nice safe seat that he would have to give up and probably worse than 50% shot of winning the primary against Kelly.

While Gallego has certainly been making noise about running, I do think he will ultimately pass on the race for that reason. Gallego has a safe house seat, and would not be guaranteed to win either the primary or general election. I think now that Kelly is in, Gallego will not want to risk losing (I'm not saying that Gallego would definitely lose to Kelly, but there is a decent chance he would). Gallego is also very young, he can afford to wait to run statewide, or could stay in the House and gain seniority (I could see him rising high in House leadership).

Perhaps I'm biased, because I would support Kelly in the primary anyways. But, I do think Gallego will ultimately pass on running for Senate.