Mark Kelly

United States senator for Arizona, a retired Navy combat pilot, and NASA astronaut.

What we have documented

We have documented 8 statements by Mark Kelly, in 6 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

Statements by Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. Senator from Arizona, in a post on X

October 9, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Sen. Mark Kelly said Hasan should face justice but that a public execution in the United States is the kind of thing Iran and the Taliban do, and said Hegseth should be removed.

“But a public execution? Here in the United States? It’s the kind of thing Iran and the Taliban do. Is this who we want to be associated with?”

Read the original postMark Kelly's post on the plan to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution (X post) · Mark KellyFull post, Oct. 9, 2026, 11:42 a.m. EDT.

Why we used this label

The case asks whether Pete Hegseth should livestream Nidal Hasan's execution; it concerns the broadcast proposal, not Hasan's conviction or capital punishment. Kelly says Hasan "should face justice" but calls a public execution "the kind of thing Iran and the Taliban do". That opposes the broadcast, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because his support is for justice for Hasan's crimes, not for the livestream.

Read statement Full case: Should Pete Hegseth livestream Nidal Hasan's execution?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. senator for Arizona and retired Navy combat pilot

September 30, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Kelly criticized Hegseth's 20% cuts, saying they lack a real military justification.

“It's not based on any real issue within the military.”

Read the original postMark Kelly criticizes Hegseth's 20% senior-officer cutsPost text and embedded interview video; post ID 2105420324473012734

Why we used this label

Relative to Hegseth's 20% reduction in general and admiral positions, Kelly rejects the military justification for the cuts.

Read statement Full case: Should Hegseth cut 20% of general and admiral positions?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Arizona

September 29, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Mark Kelly calls the use of border-security funds for Trump-promoting television ads corruption.

“Trump took taxpayer money meant for border security and used it to fund political TV ads of himself just before an election. Let's call it what it is: corruption.”

Read the original postMark Kelly calls taxpayer-funded Trump ads corruption · Mark KellyOriginal post at 5:21 PM Eastern

Why we used this label

The conduct under scrutiny is federal funding for Trump-promoting ads. Kelly explicitly condemns that spending.

Read statement Full case: Should taxpayers fund Trump's "public service" television ads?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Arizona

September 24, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Mark Kelly voted yea on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Read the official statementU.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 244: H.Con.Res. 89, Iran War Powers Resolution (rejected, 49-50)

Why we used this label

Voted to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to end U.S. involvement absent congressional authorization.

Read statement Full case: Do they support the war in Iran?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. senator for Arizona; named in Article VI of the Massie resolution

September 15, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Asked whether Hegseth should be impeached, Sen. Mark Kelly said Hegseth should never have had the job and agreed that removing him from the position makes sense.

“I could probably cite 50 times the guy should have been fired.” … “Yeah, I agree that it makes sense to remove him from this position.”

Open sourceThomas Massie moves to impeach Pete HegsethFinal section, paragraph beginning “When asked if he thinks Hegseth should be impeached…”

Why we used this label

Relative to whether the House should impeach Hegseth, Kelly answers an express impeachment question by agreeing that removal makes sense. The Senate tries an impeachment rather than voting articles, and Kelly does not address the House resolution itself.

Read statement Full case: Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Arizona

June 23, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Mark Kelly voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Read the official statementU.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 184: H.Con.Res. 86, Iran War Powers Resolution (agreed to, 50-48)

Why we used this label

A yea vote supported directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, opposing continued U.S. involvement in the war without congressional authorization.

Read statement Full case: Do they support the war in Iran?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Arizona and co-sponsor of the Protect Our Polls Act

June 18, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a co-sponsor of the Protect Our Polls Act, said the idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal. He said President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore the limits federal law sets.

“The idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal Federal law has protected polling places from military interference since the Civil War for a reason. President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore those limits. We’re making sure he can’t.”

Read the official statementSlotkin Leads Purple State Senators on Bill to Stop Trump from Using Military or Federal Law Enforcement to Interfere with ElectionsPress release of June 18, 2026; each co-sponsor's words follow the bill summary

Why we used this label

The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. Kelly said the idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal, and that President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore the legal limits. That expressly rejects the stated or threatened use, so we labeled it Condemned.

Read statement Full case: Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?

Mark Kelly

Role at the time: United States senator for Arizona, a retired Navy combat pilot, and NASA astronaut.

February 28, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Kelly criticizes launching the Iran operation without a clear mission or plan for what follows and demands immediate Senate oversight.

“I don’t think Donald Trump knows the answer, and that’s dangerous when American lives are on the line.”

Read the official statementKelly Statement on Military Operation Against Iran - Senator Mark KellyComplete original text; Kelly criticizes the Iran operation’s lack of a plan

Why we used this label

The case concerns U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war. Kelly criticizes launching the Iran operation without a clear mission or plan for what follows and demands immediate Senate oversight.

Read statement Full case: Do they support the war in Iran?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

Case