Sen. Mark Kelly: His Long Game.

Mark Kelly's rise: From 'space guy' to potential VP candidate

If Sen. Mark Kelly joins the Democrats' presidential ticket, it would cap a swift ascent in politics: four years in the Senate, then the White House. But Kelly, D-Ariz., had already built a national profile beyond politics.

Kelly's name was floated to replace his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., when she resigned in 2012 due to gunshot injuries. He's now rumored to be a finalist for VP Kamala Harris' running mate.

"He offers a lot as a senator from a swing state," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, citing Kelly's career as an astronaut and Navy pilot. Sabato says Kelly's four years in politics "takes it off the table" as an attack point, especially compared to Trump and J.D. Vance.

Kelly's public profile began with his marriage to Giffords, a rising Democratic star. In 2011, a mass shooting in Tucson ended Giffords' career but thrust Kelly into the spotlight. The couple advocated for gun reform, creating Americans for Responsible Solutions (now called Giffords). Kelly testified before the Senate, pushing for gun control.

Kelly's political involvement grew. In 2012, he attended Obama's State of the Union, sitting with the first and second ladies. In 2013, Obama acknowledged the couple during his speech, interpreted as a nudge for Kelly to enter politics. Kelly eventually ran for the Senate in 2020, leveraging his public profile and reputation as a moderate. Despite Arizona's Republican lean, Kelly's centrist image helped him win.

Now, Kelly's name is mentioned for VP. Friends and colleagues say his motivation is a desire to see action on key issues. His potential nomination underscores his appeal as a moderate and a veteran with a high-profile career.