Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) made it official this morning, announcing her re-election bid for the Senate. McSally is the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat. She has dedicated much of her tenure in the upper chamber to combatting sexual assault in the military, alongside her Democratic colleagues; McSally was sexually assaulted by her superior during her time in the military. The freshman senator so bravely told her own story during a Congressional hearing on sexual misconduct in the military, and highlighted that same story and her work to ensure others do not have to endure the same pain, in her launch video:
IT’S TIME! I’m officially launching my campaign for U.S. Senate today - check out my launch video here! #AZsen pic.twitter.com/rxEQ5Oz8w2
— Martha McSally for U.S. Senate (@MarthaMcSally) February 11, 2020
“I’m grateful that I’ve had the chance to survive and thrive, not just in spite of some dark experiences I’ve had, but actually because of them. And that has allowed me to be in a place now that I can’t walk by a problem. When I see something’s wrong, when I see someone struggling, when I see someone who needs help, I think ‘what am I going to do today, to be able to make a difference in someone else’s life?’” McSally says.
Arizona’s Senate seat is viewed as one of the more competitive this cycle. Democrats are looking to unseat Sen. McSally, who is challenged by Democrat Mark Kelly. RealClearPolitics gives Kelly a slight, 4 percent advantage currently, with November still a ways away.