Mark Kelly 'Stands Out' as Kamala Harris Closes In on VP Pick

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly has a number of qualities and credentials that suggest he is the best-placed candidate to be named as Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, an analyst told Newsweek.

Francisco Pedraza, associate professor at Arizona State University's School of Politics and Global Studies, said that Kelly "stands out" above the other potential vice president hopefuls. The senator's background in both the military and as an astronaut will appeal to voters, as well as his popularity in the key swing state.

Kelly is a moderate Democrat who was first elected Arizona senator in 2020. He was immediately named as a potential running mate for Harris after the vice president replaced Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic 2024 nominee when the president ended his reelection campaign on Sunday.

Reports say that Kelly has been asked to submit personal information as part of the vice-presidential vetting process, along with several other names considered in the running to be on the Democratic 2024 ticket such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

Pedraza said that Kelly, who was born and raised in New Jersey and has also lived in Texas, has the ability to broaden the appeal of the Democratic presidential ticket if he is chosen as Harris' running mate.

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks at his reelection celebration at Barrio Cafe on November 12, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Democrat is believed to be among the favorites to be named as Kamala Harris' 2024... Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks at his reelection celebration at Barrio Cafe on November 12, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Democrat is believed to be among the favorites to be named as Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate. More Jon Cherry/Getty Images

"As a matter of Electoral College strategy, Kelly stands out for his connections to New Jersey, Texas, and, of course, Arizona," Pedraza told Newsweek.

"He can make credible claims to calling each of those states his home. I would guess that his Irish background resonates positively with many ethnic whites in those states and beyond."

Pedraza also said that Kelly could also appeal to the key Latino demographic, noting an October 2022 survey from ASU's Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research (CLAPR) showed Kelly had a 60 percent approval rating among Latino voters in the state.

Kelly could even provide a major boost in appealing to voters who may not agree with the Democrat's policies on hot topic issues such as immigration or the environment.

Harris was personally tasked by Biden to try to control the surge of migrants crossing the southern border and the administration's response on immigration issues soon after he entered the White House in January 2021.

However, Biden's time in office has been plagued with frequently record-breaking numbers of illegal migrant crossings at the U.S./Mexico border.

Harris' record on immigration is already being used as an attack line by the GOP. Trump recently described the vice president in a Truth Social post as the "Biden appointed 'Border Czar' who never visited the Border, and whose incompetence gave us the WORST and MOST DANGEROUS Border" in the world.

"Kelly's politics are moderate to left-of-center. The GOP will try to paint him as a radical left. However, his record indicates he has staked some positions that run counter to Biden and even majorities of rank-and-file Democratic partisans," Pedraza said.

"For instance, Kelly has expressed criticism of Biden's strategy on immigration, opting for added border security. And, while he generally wants action to address climate warming and reduce the number of people without health-care insurance, he has opposed the 'Green New Deal' and proposals to expand access to Medicare.

"Kelly's moderate politics are likely to help him win over a broad cross-section of voters who identify as Democrats and independents," Pedraza added.

Like Harris, who previously worked as an attorney and California's attorney general, Kelly could also cite his pro-law enforcement credentials, given he is the son of two police officers.

Another positive for Kelly is he has previous in beating MAGA candidates.

In November 2022, he won reelection to the Arizona senate after defeating the Trump-endorsed election denier Blake Masters in the midterms.

Kelly's office has been contacted for comment via email.

The Arizona senator, who has endorsed Harris in the 2024 election, has so far dodged questions regarding his potential candidacy as her running mate.

"This is not about me," Kelly told ABC News on Tuesday. "I'm going to be focused on doing everything I can to make sure she is elected because we cannot have a repeat of what we saw between 2016 and 2020."