Kamala Harris VP Candidate Mark Kelly Could Create New Democrat Problem

If Vice President Kamala Harris chooses Arizona Senator Mark Kelly as her running mate in this year's presidential election, Democrats could face a new challenge in the competitive battleground state.

President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris last Sunday following weeks of interparty fighting among Democrats on whether he should pass the torch to the next generation after his debate fiasco against former President Donald Trump, the newly confirmed GOP presidential nominee, last month in Atlanta. Harris is now the Democratic Party's presumed presidential nominee.

Kelly is among the handful of Democrats reportedly being considered to be Harris' vice presidential pick. Democrats view his strong electoral record and popularity in Arizona, a swing state that could determine the outcome of the election, as a key asset that could give them an advantage over former Trump in the state.

However, some within the party have noted that if he becomes vice president, Democrats could face a more competitive Senate race in 2026.

Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, would pick Kelly's replacement until the election, meaning Democrats would continue to hold the seat for two years. However, it remains to be seen whether his prospective replacement would still have his electoral strength, particularly if the national environment would favor Republicans in Harris' first midterm.

Senator Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, told NBC News last week that Harris must consider Kelly's Senate seat when choosing her running mate.

"This is a calculation that the vice president and her team have to make. And that's certainly a factor. But there are trade-offs no matter who you pick. So we've just got to, I think, first and foremost, she's got to decide who she's comfortable being a partner with," he said.

Senator Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, told Politico on Sunday that Democrats would "have a tough time with his seat."

"But I think all of us understand that first, last and always—what's going to help us win the presidency? That's what we have to do. And that's more important than any Senate or House seat," the senator said.

"Mark Kelly is cool but do not pick him for VP unless we want to give republicans his Senate seat in 2026 and never see the senate majority for the next 15 years," activist and former Democratic Florida state House candidate Elijah Manley posted to X, formerly Twitter, last week.

Kelly, meanwhile, addressed these concerns in Sunday remarks to Politico and said, "We're good at Senate races."

Newsweek has reached out to the Harris campaign and Kelly's political team for comment via email.

Arizona has seen a Senate race in every year since 2016, and Democrats have won each race since 2018.

In 2016, Republican Senator John McCain won his reelection by about 13 points. In 2018, then-Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema defeated Republican Representative Martha McSally by about 2.4 points. Two years later, Kelly defeated McSally by about 2.4 points in the race to replace McCain following his death. In 2022, Kelly defeated Republican Blake Masters by nearly five points to serve a full term.

This year, Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego is facing off against Republican Kari Lake to fill the seat being vacated by Sinema who has changed her registration to an independent since her election in 2018. Polls suggest Gallego holds a lead over Lake, though the state remains closer on the presidential level.

In addition to Kelly, Harris is also reportedly considering Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to be her running mate.