LIFT OFF: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly Will Headline Montana Democratic Party’s Annual Fundraising Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 18, 2023

CONTACT
hadley@montanademocrats.org

Helena, MT – Today, the Montana Democratic Party announced that U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona will deliver the Keynote address for the Mansfield Metcalf Dinner on March 4th, 2023 in Helena, MT.

Senator Mark Kelly is a retired U.S. Navy combat pilot, engineer, NASA astronaut, and Arizona’s Democratic Senator. Mark took office in December 2020 after Arizonans elected him to fill out the remainder of the late Senator John McCain’s term. And in 2022, Arizonans elected him to a full six-year term in the Senate. Senator Kelly lives in Tucson with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

“We are thrilled to host Senator Kelly in Montana. Although it’s a much shorter trip to Helena than to the International Space Station, we are honored he is making the journey,” says Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan. “Throughout his long and diverse career, Senator Kelly has dedicated his life to service, protecting Americans, and fighting for working families. He’ll feel right at home among Montana Democrats.” 

The Mansfield Metcalf Celebration is the Montana Democratic Party’s biggest event of the year. Past speakers have included then-Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Cory Booker, and DNC Chair Jamie Harrison. This year’s celebration will be on March 4th, 2023, at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds. Tickets will be on sale Tuesday, January 24th on montanademocrats.org. 


Background: 

Senator Mark Kelly is a retired U.S. Navy combat pilot, engineer, and NASA astronaut. He lives in Tucson with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Mark took office in December 2020 after Arizonans elected him to fill out the remainder of the late Senator John McCain’s term. And in 2022, Arizonans elected him to a full six-year term in the Senate.

Mark is the son of two police officers, and he attended public schools from elementary school through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. As a naval aviator he made two deployments on the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Midway and flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft and completed over 375 carrier landings. Mark is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and multiple Air Medals.

Mark was selected as an astronaut in 1996 in the same class as his twin brother, Scott. He flew his first of four missions into space in 2001 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the same space shuttle he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. Mark has spent more than 50 days in space and has lived on the International Space Station. His identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, is also a retired U.S. Navy Captain and astronaut who served aboard the International Space Station on a yearlong mission. 

Mark and Gabby were married in 2007. After an assassination attempt nearly took Gabby’s life, she retired from Congress, but has continued her important work and remains Mark’s partner and best friend.

Gabby and Mark live in Tucson with their dog Nelson and they frequently play host to their granddaughter, Sage. Mark’s daughter Claire recently graduated from Arizona State University and his oldest daughter Claudia, a student at the University of Arizona, lives in Tucson.

###