Gallego: Kelly would give Harris ticket a ‘jolt’ as VP

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) lauded Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) record, saying the senator would give Democrats a “jolt” ahead of November if Vice President Harris selected him to be her running mate.

“Adding Kelly to the ticket will add that extra jolt to the campaign,” Gallego told CNN’s Manu Raju in an interview Wednesday.

“And I think it’d be great for Democrats across the country … again as a border state senator, understands border issues; as an astronaut, married to Gabby Giffords … It’s a good combination right there,” he added.

Gallego is running for retiring Sen. Krysten Sinema’s (I-Ariz.) seat in November against former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (R). According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling average of the race, the lawmaker is leading Lake by 4 percentage points.

Biden endorsed Harris for the White House shortly after announcing his own decision to withdraw from the race over the weekend. In recent days, speculation has swirled over who Harris will choose to be her running mate in November’s election.

Kelly has been floated as one of the top contenders to join the likely Democratic nominee atop the ticket, with many citing his story as a Navy pilot and astronaut as a compelling narrative to give. He is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was shot during a campaign event with constituents in 2011. She has been a leading voice in the fight for gun reform.

Arizona is also slated to become a battleground state in the election, after Biden narrowly won the Grand Canyon State over then-President Trump in 2020.

A Democratic official confirmed to The Hill that Kelly is on the list of potential vice-presidential candidates who the campaign sent vetting materials to.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) are also among those being considered, according to the official.