Mark Kelly

**Mark Edward Kelly** (born February 21, 1964) is a distinguished American politician, retired astronaut, and United States Navy captain. Today, he is recognized as a key member of the Democratic Party. Kelly has been serving as the junior U.S. senator from Arizona since 2020, following his successful reelection in 2022. His career began with combat missions during the Gulf War before he was selected as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot in 1996. Battling the infinite abyss of space, he commenced his first space mission in 2001 as a pilot, continuing his extraterrestrial journeys over the years with piloting STS-121 (2006) and commanding STS-124 (2008) and STS-134 (2011). However, Kelly's career trajectory took a turn in 2011 when his wife, then-Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords, was nearly assassinated. Subsequently, Kelly retired from the Navy and NASA, dedicating his resources towards establishing a nonprofit political action committee, Americans for Responsible Solutions alongside his wife. The focused advocacy of this organization lies in campaigning for refined gun control measures like universal background checks. With ambition unabated, Kelly declared his candidacy for Arizona Class 3 U.S. Senate seat in 2020, winning the election and becoming the first Democrat to secure the seat since 1962. Known for his resilience and leadership, he remains a potent force in American politics today.