Politics in the Grand Canyon State moves fast. If you're looking for the short answer to who are the senators in Arizona, it's Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. Both are Democrats.
But honestly, that's just the surface. Arizona used to be the land of Barry Goldwater and John McCain—solidly Republican, fiercely independent, and predictable. Now? It’s arguably the messiest, most fascinating political battleground in America.
We’ve seen a massive shift here. Just a few years ago, the idea of two Democrats representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate would have felt like a fever dream to local political junkies. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the landscape has completely transformed.
The Current Lineup: Kelly and Gallego
Right now, the two seats are held by men with very different vibes but similar "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" stories.
Mark Kelly: The Astronaut in the Room
Mark Kelly is the senior senator. He first took office in late 2020 after winning a special election to fill the remainder of John McCain's term. Then he did it again in 2022, winning a full six-year term.
He's a retired NASA astronaut and Navy captain. You've probably seen him in his flight suit in campaign ads, which is a big part of his brand. He markets himself as a data-driven, mission-oriented guy. In the Senate, he’s been a huge advocate for the CHIPS and Science Act, mostly because Arizona is becoming a massive hub for semiconductor manufacturing (think Intel and TSMC).
His current term doesn't end until January 3, 2029.
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Ruben Gallego: The Newcomer with History
Ruben Gallego is the junior senator, having just taken office in January 2025. He replaced Kyrsten Sinema, who—in a move that shocked exactly nobody who was paying attention—decided not to run for re-election after leaving the Democratic party to become an Independent.
Gallego is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq. Before the Senate, he represented parts of Phoenix in the House for a decade. He’s the first Latino to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate, which is a pretty big deal given the state’s demographics. He won a tough race against Kari Lake in 2024, leaning heavily on his background as the son of immigrants raised by a single mother.
His term is just beginning; he’s set to be there until January 3, 2031.
Why Arizona’s Senate Seats Are Always in the News
It feels like there's an election for who are the senators in Arizona every single year. While that's an exaggeration, it’s not far off.
Between 2018 and 2024, Arizona had a Senate seat on the ballot in every single biennial election. That is exhausting for voters. It’s also why your TV is constantly flooded with political ads if you live in Maricopa County.
The "McCain Seat" Drama
The seat Mark Kelly holds is often called the "McCain seat." When John McCain passed away in 2018, it set off a chain reaction of appointments and special elections.
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- Governor Doug Ducey first appointed Jon Kyl.
- Kyl resigned shortly after.
- Ducey then appointed Martha McSally (who had just lost the other Senate race to Sinema).
- McSally then lost the special election to Mark Kelly.
It was a musical chairs routine that eventually landed the seat in Democratic hands for the first time in decades.
The Sinema Factor
You can't talk about Arizona's senators without mentioning Kyrsten Sinema. She was the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Arizona since the 80s. But she became a polarizing figure, often blocking her own party’s legislation. Her departure paved the way for Ruben Gallego to consolidate the Democratic base.
Many people wondered if an "Independent" run would split the vote and hand the seat to the GOP. Instead, Sinema bowed out, and Gallego managed to hold together a coalition of Latino voters, suburbanites, and "McCain Republicans" who were tired of the MAGA-style rhetoric.
What They’re Actually Doing in D.C.
If you’re wondering what these guys do all day, they’re mostly focused on three things: water, chips, and the border.
In Arizona, water is basically gold. Kelly and Gallego have been obsessively working on Bureau of Reclamation funding and Colorado River agreements. Without that water, the state's growth hits a brick wall.
They also focus heavily on the "Silicon Desert" transition. Arizona is no longer just about tourism and retirement. It’s about high-tech manufacturing. Kelly, specifically, uses his seat on the Armed Services and Commerce committees to make sure those federal dollars keep flowing into the Phoenix suburbs.
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How the Voting Works (Class 1 vs. Class 3)
The U.S. Senate is split into three "classes" so that not everyone is up for election at once. Arizona has:
- Class 1 (Gallego): Next election is 2030.
- Class 3 (Kelly): Next election is 2028.
This means we actually get a "break" from Senate races in 2026. Enjoy the silence while it lasts.
What Most People Miss About Arizona Politics
A lot of national pundits try to simplify Arizona as a "blue state" now. That's a mistake.
Arizona is "purple" or "checked-out," depending on who you ask. The number of registered Independents in the state often rivals or exceeds the number of registered Democrats or Republicans. This is why Kelly and Gallego both talk a lot about bipartisanship and veterans' affairs. They know they can't win by just talking to the far left.
To keep their seats, they have to appeal to the "frontier" mentality—voters who want the government to stay out of their business but also want their infrastructure fixed and their water protected.
Actionable Steps: Stay Informed
Knowing who are the senators in Arizona is only the start. If you want to actually have a say or keep them accountable, here’s how you handle it:
- Check the voting records: Don't listen to the campaign ads. Go to Congress.gov and see what they actually voted for this week.
- Town Halls: Both Kelly and Gallego hold virtual and in-person town halls. Sign up for their newsletters on their official
.senate.govwebsites to get the invites. - Direct Contact: If you have an issue with a federal agency (like the VA or Social Security), their offices have "caseworkers" specifically designed to help residents. Use them.
- Register to Vote: If you’ve moved to Arizona recently (and many have), update your registration at ServiceArizona.
Understanding your representation is the best way to make sure the state's unique needs—from the border to the high-tech corridors—are actually being met in Washington.