Arizona incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Kelly is projected to win against his Republican challenger Blake Masters, boosting the Democrats hopes of holding onto the Senate.
- YAHOO NEWS – With 83% of votes counted, the Associated Press called the race Friday evening for Kelly — a Navy combat veteran, retired NASA astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz. He leads Masters, a 36-year-old “anti-progressive” venture capitalist, by an insurmountable 52% to 46% margin.
- POLITICO – Kelly’s win puts Democrats one seat away from extending their Senate majority for another two years. A win in either of the two seats still up for grabs — Nevada or Georgia, where there will be a runoff race on Dec. 6 — will win the chamber for Democrats.
- NBC NEWS – Kelly ran as a moderate, breaking with President Joe Biden on issues like immigration as he sought to navigate headwinds generated by Biden’s low approval rating and widespread economic pain due to rising inflation. He promised to protect abortion rights and build on Democrats’ achievements in recent years, including laws to boost competition with China and to lower prescription drug costs.
- FOX NEWS – Masters, the wealthy businessman turned GOP Senate candidate, was backed by former President Donald Trump early in the summer before winning the Arizona GOP primary in August.
B.C. Begley 