EXCLUSIVE: Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) responded to a question about his interest in a Cabinet-level role in a possible Kamala Harris administration.
After speaking at the Veterans and Military Families Council meeting during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Kelly gave an interview to Fox News Digital about the presidential campaign.
The Arizona senator was asked by Fox News Digital whether he would be interested in serving in Vice President Kamala Harris’ cabinet if she wins the presidential election in November, specifically as secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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Mark Kelly left the door open for a possible cabinet role. (Getty Images)
“I’m focused on doing everything I can over the next 77 days to make sure Tim Walz and Kamala Harris are successful on November 5th. That’s my goal,” he said, without indicating whether he would like to join their administration.
Kelly’s response was similar to his answers earlier this month when he was being considered and vetted as a possible running mate for Harris. He repeatedly told reporters that it wasn’t about him and that he was focused on making sure Democrats win in November.
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Senator Mark Kelly and Vice President Kamala Harris (Getty Images)
The Democratic senator is uniquely positioned as a 25-year Navy veteran, making him a likely candidate for Secretary of Defense should he be interested. Kelly’s role as a senator from a border state who has been outspoken about his concerns about illegal immigration could earn him a spot on the list of possible DHS secretaries.
A sticking point for the Arizona Democrat in the 2024 election is respect for veterans and their families. “Do you expect someone like Donald Trump to really care about military families when he doesn’t even care about the soldiers who risked their lives and sees them as suckers and losers?” he asked on Tuesday. “Of course you wouldn’t.”
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Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
However, former President Trump has denied the report with an anonymous source saying he called deceased soldiers “morons” and “losers.”
He has denied this, writing on Truth Social: “Only a pervert with a score to settle would suggest that anyone would make such a statement.”
But his denial did not stop his opponents, including Kelly and President Biden, from accusing him of it.
“They need someone to take care of our veterans and our soldiers,” Kelly told Fox News Digital.
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 9: Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on August 9, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
According to the senator, “a President Harris will ensure that we continue to modernize our military to ensure our soldiers can be victorious in conflicts, whether in the Western Pacific, Europe, the Middle East or elsewhere.”
He went on to describe the “tremendous energy” at the DNC, where Harris is being celebrated as the new Democratic presidential candidate after Biden suspended his campaign. But Kelly said the enthusiasm is not limited to Chicago.
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“Arizona is often viewed as a kind of red state,” he explained. But “I’ve never seen this kind of energy in this area,” the Democrat said, referring to Harris’ recent rally in the state.
“It’s hard to imagine what it will be like in October. It will be incredible,” he predicted.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 election campaign, exclusive interviews and more on our election hub Fox News Digital
