As far as Vance being a vet, he was a war correspondent for six months. Mark Kelly flew combat missions. I know who I’d hope the vets would pick. I’d choose Kelly too ( fun fact, Mark’s twin brother Scott is also an astronaut.)
In AZ the Governor appoints a replacement but there would have to be a special election at the next general election date (i.e. November 2026). The election would be for the remainder of the term through Jan 2029. Kelly himself was first elected in a special election to finish his predecessor’s term.
I looked and, if Mark Kelly stayed in the US senate, his current term would end in January, 2029 (so, a 2028 election cycle).
I was SO disappointed by his performance as Hillary’s VP. Just totally ineffective - especially at the debate with flyboy.
I’d LOVE to see Jared Moskowitz on the campaign trail and debating Vance! 
Could he bring FLA into play?
Of the other suggestions so far, I’d say Kelly would be a strong pick.
Hell yes. I was fired up when I saw you post this before, and I’m glad you chimed in again in this thread. I think that combination would make MAGA heads explode.
And I think “Mayor Pete”'s time is coming, but I gotta agree with the earlier person who said that that would be trying to break “too many ceilings at once”. What a great turn of phrase.
Count me in with choosing a Democratic governor from a red state. I’m hoping she picks Andy Beshear or Roy Cooper.
The worry there is who replaces those governors? I do not know the answer to that but it needs to be considered.
Roy Cooper is term limited and not running for reelection this year.
If she did pick a Congressman I’ve been impressed by what I’ve heard of Seth Moulton from Massachusetts. I know he’s an unknown, but he seems solid.
Thus far of the options I’m hearing I like Mark Kelly best.
Me too. He’s made a mark as our Governor, but he’s only been in office since 2023. His time will come for bigger things, but I’d like to keep him here. Leaving now would piss off a lot of people who believed in him. His opponent for Gov was a MAGA loony who nonetheless carried my solid red county. I’d hate to see Mastriano’s name come up again in 3 years.
Wouldn’t the next general election be in November 2025?
General elections are in even years except in VA and NJ.
My first choice for a lot of reasons. Smart. Compassionate. Astronaut is an easy job to explain to Americans and Americans still like astronauts. Solid voting record as a Senator. His wife survived an assassination attempt making Trump’s blathering on about his ear piercing look petty in comparison. Popular in a swing state. Not currently up for election. His replacement (if he won) would be named by a Democratic governor. I hope it’s him.
NM. It was probably too close to a hijack. Apologies.
They really need to have a straight white guy to balance it, sadly. Otherwise the Dems will lose too many votes.
I’d worry a lot less about residual antisemitism in the Democratic voter base than the effect on the Michigan race, given that it has a relatively large Arab-American population. Shapiro isn’t just a lox-and-bagels Jew. He went to a Jewish high school, met his future wife there, and considers himself an observant Conservative Jew. I’d love it if he became the first Jewish VP (RIP Joe Lieberman) and then POTUS someday. But now is not the time.
I like Whitmer. Love to see her take apart Vance’s prehistoric attitude towards women in a VP debate.
Maybe the aforementioned Sherrod Brown would help with Ohio, which is, as I’ve understood it, quite red.
Not in a zillion years. Not only is he openly gay, but he has little experience.
She needs a white dude, from the rust belt or South. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro,Sherrod Brown (Ohio senator), etc.
It wont be Whitmer.
Not a bad choice, but Arizona is another western state.
Yep. a point against him election -wise. But a important state.
Remember- Senators, etc dont have to give up their seat while campaigning, only if elected.
Yep, it isnt a nice fact, but it is a fact.
Purple.
I had no knowledge of Senator Kelly but after several of you mentioned him I looked him up and I was quite impressed by his resume. He’s a very accomplished man and being an astronaut is only part of his story. No one could accuse him of being weak on defense (though I’m sure they would try).