For the second time in two years, Arizona Republican Sen. Martha McSally has conceded a Senate race.
“With nearly all the votes counted, I called Mark Kelly this morning to congratulate him on winning this race,” McSally wrote in a statement Friday.
The Associated Press called the special election for the last two years of the late Republican Sen. John McCain’s term in favor of retired astronaut Kelly, a Democrat, nine days ago. Kelly, the husband of former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, won by roughly 2 percentage points, 51% to 49%.
“While falling short, I am deeply humbled to have received the second most votes ever cast by Arizonans for a statewide race,” McSally said. “I am thankful for the more than 1.6 million Arizonans who voted for me and everyone who dedicated their time, resources, and prayers to our campaign.”
McSally was appointed to the Senate by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in 2019, just weeks after she lost her 2018 race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. McSally had an early lead that cycle thanks to Election Day votes, but she was defeated in the open contest for retired GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat by 2 points after mail-in and early ballots were tallied.
McSally’s refusal to concede wasn’t unusual after last week’s election. She was joined by another Senate candidate, Michigan Republican John James, and President Trump. Trump has yet to acknowledge the presidential results as he awaits the outcomes of legal challenges and recounts in Georgia and Wisconsin.
When Kelly is sworn into office as early as Nov. 30, it will be the first time since January 1953 that Arizona will be represented by two Democrats in the Senate.
