Kelly wins Arizona Senate race, bringing Dems closer to majority

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, D, won his reelection in a close race against businessman Blake Masters, R. This will be Kelly’s first full term after winning a special election in 2020 after the death of GOP Sen. John McCain. 

Republicans and Democrats both poured resources into this race because it was crucial to control of the Senate. Kelly flipped this seat for Democrats with his special election victory. It’s part of the reason the party now has a 50-50 majority in the chamber with Vice President Harris acting as the tie-breaking vote.

Republicans desperately wanted to halt Democrats’ momentum in the state. In 2018, the GOP held both Senate seats, the governor’s mansion and had won the state in every presidential election since 1996. In fact, Gov. Doug Ducey won his 2018 re-election in a 14-point blow out. But a lot changed, and Republicans’ success ceased.

Democrat Krysten Sinema flipped retiring Sen. Jeff Flake’s, R, seat in 2018. Kelly flipped McCain’s seat in 2020 at the same time President Joe Biden won the state’s 11 electoral votes.

As a result of the interest, fundraising in this race was extraordinary. Sen. Kelly raised more than $81 million in individual contributions, putting him second only behind Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who hauled in more than $123 million. Kelly far outraised Masters who brought in a little over $12 million.