Arizona
Mark Kelly: What to know about the Arizona senator who could be Kamala Harris' running mate
2024 Election: Mark Kelly on list of potential VPs
Among the names being thrown about as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and the former chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party say they expect a running mate to be selected soon. FOX 10’s Kenzie Beach has more on what Kelly could bring to the Democratic ticket.
PHOENIX – Since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly’s name has been listed, among others, in a list of potential running mates.
Here are 5 things to know about Arizona’s senator.
1. He served in the Navy
Mark Kelly in Navy uniform (Courtesy: Mark Kelly)
Per Kelly’s Senate website, he was a Navy pilot who “made multiple deployments on the aircraft carrier USS Midway and flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm.”
“Senator Kelly is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and multiple Air Medals,” the website reads. “He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft and has over 375 carrier landings.”
2. He was an astronaut
Mark Kelly, in a photo taken during his time as an astronaut (Courtesy: NASA via DVIDS)
Per his biography on NASA’s website, Kelly, who was Captain in the U.S. Navy, flew with NASA for the first time as a pilot on STS-108 in December 2001. The mission involved bringing a new crew to the International Space Station, as well as food, clothes and science equipment.
Kelly, the biography states, was also on the crew of the second Space Shuttle flight after the destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. That mission, known as STS-121, had multiple objectives, including an analysis of safety improvements that debuted in the STS-114 mission, which was also called the Return to Flight mission by NASA.
NASA’s website states Kelly retired from the agency and from the U.S. Navy in October 2011.
3. He has a twin who took part in a NASA study with him
Scott Kelly, in a photo taken after he returned to Earth from a space mission in 2011. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Mark Kelly is not the only member of his family who worked as an astronaut: Scott Kelly is Mark’s twin brother.
In his NASA biography, Scott is listed as having logged “more than 520 days in space on four space flight.” In 2015, NASA officials said Scott spent a year onboard the International Space Station while Mark remained on Earth, as part of a study of identical twins that “helped scientists better understand the impacts of spaceflight on a human body.”
Scott NASA officials say, retired from the agency in 2016.
4. Kelly’s wife also served in Congress
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (left) and Mark Kelly (right), in a photo taken in 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller)
Kelly’s wife is Gabby Giffords, a former Arizona lawmaker and Congresswoman who was gravely wounded during a shooting in Tucson in 2011 that left a total of six people dead and 13 people injured.
The Associated Press wrote in 2019 that Giffords was a rising Democratic star before the shooting.
According to his campaign website, Kelly and Giffords were married in 2007. Giffords was featured in a Senate campaign ad for Kelly in 2020.
5. He never held public office prior to 2020
In their report on Kelly’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2019, the Associated Press stated that Kelly never held political office prior to that point in time.
Kelly ran against then-incumbent Senator Martha McSally in 2020 for the Senate seat that was once held by late Sen. John McCain. McSally, who was appointed to the position, lost to Kelly in that election.
In 2022, Kelly ran for a Senate term in his own right, and won against Republican Blake Masters.
What are political experts saying about Kelly as Kamala Harris’ running mate?
We spoke with former Maricopa County Democratic Party Chair Steven Slugocki about Kelly, and his potential to be the next Democratic vice presidential candidate.
“He’s done a lot of work for the people of Arizona,” said Slugocki. “He led the CHIPS Act, which has made Arizona the leader in semiconductors in the world.”
Kelly, according to Slugocki, also brings border experience to the ticket, something that could give him a leg up on the other possible running mates.
“Obviously, being a border state, [Kelly] knows this better than anybody. He’s done a lot of great work there. He knows firsthand how critical the border is. He has been on the border. He has been working on this issue since he got elected. So, he has that firsthand experience that others may not.”
However, some fear Kelly does not have the national name recognition for the short campaign.
“He may not be well known in Pennsylvania or Michigan. You know, that is something we’d have to tell his story,” said Slugocki. “We’d have to get out and get the message of why he is such a strong addition to those ticket, so that maybe as of right now, that’s a weakness, but that’ll turn into a strength once people get to know him.”
Arizona
San Jose State transfer OL Nate Hale committed to Arizona and broke down his decision
After taking official visits to UCLA and Arizona over the last week, San Jose State offensive line transfer Nate Hale is headed to Tuscon to play for the Wildcats.
Hale said his familiarity with the Wildcat staff, who initially recruited him to San Jose State played a big role.
“UCLA was great and they’re definitely building something there but I committed to Arizona on my trip,” Hale said. “A lot of the staff there is the same staff that was at San Jose State my freshman year and it was great to see so many familiar faces.
“I love coach B (Brent Brennan), he was one of the first coaches to offer me out of high school. I love his energy, authenticity and his belief in me and I can’t wait to play for him and go block for Noah (Fifita).”
UA OL coach Josh Oglesby played a big tole in his decision as well.
“It’s always impossible to say no to coach O,” Hale said. “I’m so excited to play for him again and I ahve a great connection with their OC Seth Doege as well.
“It was a tough decision but me and my family talked and prayed about it and we felt that Arizona was the best all around fit for me.”
Hale is a player we saw a lot of out of high school where he prepped for state power Orange Lutheran (Calif.). He signed with the Spartans as part of the class of 2023 and started 10 games as a right tackle this past season.
“I’m going to stay at tackle at Arizona as well,” Hale said. “They said they want me to come in to compete and contribute immediately.
“That was my first time in Tucson and I loved the campus and awesome facilities. I know I can develop on and off the field so I’m really excited about my decision.”
Hale will have two years of eligibility left and has the game experience and all around skill set to be a potential plug and play tackle and compete for a starting spot right away.
Arizona
Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot
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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).
In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.
In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.
The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.43
- 100 free – 49.11
- 200 free – 1:46.38
Best LCM times (converted):
- 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
- 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
- 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
- 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)
Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.
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Arizona
Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands
TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.
While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.
Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.
Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.
Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami
Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.
LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.
Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.
Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.
Expected Visit – Oregon
Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.
There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.
It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.
Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon
There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.
Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.
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