Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said Thursday during an interview on “Next Question with Katie Couric” that far-left calls to abolish police, eliminate prisons and the border and defund the Pentagon were partly responsible for Democrats’ low approval ratings because voters associated those positions with the broader party.
“There are folks out there that say things that just don’t make sense to the American people, like abolish the police or get rid of jails and prisons, get rid of the border, defund the Pentagon,” Kelly said.
“Those things don’t make sense.”
Couric asked Kelly whether the Democratic Party’s ideological divide could hurt its candidates during the midterm elections and its eventual 2028 presidential nominee.
“It could cost us some seats,” Kelly said. “I think that’s very, very possible.”
Kelly distanced himself from the party’s left flank, saying voters sometimes attributed its most progressive proposals to every Democratic candidate.
“Some of them, I think, associate it with Democrats,” Kelly said. “That’s not the Democratic Party I’m in. Those aren’t the policies I support.”
Kelly’s remarks followed months of bleak polling for Democratic leaders. A Fox News poll conducted in April found that 42% of registered voters viewed the Democratic Party favorably, while 58% viewed it unfavorably. Sixty-one percent said Democrats were focused on the “wrong” issues.
A Quinnipiac University poll released in May found that 20% of registered voters approved of the job Democrats in Congress were doing, while 72% disapproved. Even among Democratic voters, 41% approved and 50% disapproved.
Kelly issued his warning after democratic socialist candidates scored several prominent primary victories.
DSA-backed candidate Melat Kiros defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., while DSA member Darializa Avila Chevalier ousted veteran Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-NY.
DSA-endorsed New York state lawmaker Claire Valdez also won the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-NY.
Kelly said he is “seriously considering” a 2028 presidential campaign and that his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, was encouraging him to enter the race.
He said his decision would depend on his family and whether he believed he could win.
“She’s about, you know, what’s the best thing for the country?” Kelly said of Giffords. “She is all about public service, and everybody needs to do their part.
“If we come to the conclusion that, you know, I’m the right person for this and my family’s on board, and we also consider what it takes.”
The Arizona Democrat has also built a political operation capable of supporting a national campaign, saying he had directed millions of dollars to candidates he considered electable while avoiding campaigns centered on unrealistic proposals.
“I have the ability to, you know, raise money. I’m pretty good at that,” Kelly said.
“I have raised or given away combined $10 million during this election cycle,” he continued. “I tend to steer away from the stuff that is never going to happen, that is just about creating a lot of noise.”
Despite the party’s poor image, a Fox News poll released last week found Democrats leading Republicans by seven points among registered voters, 53% to 46%.
The poll also found that 68% of Democrats were extremely motivated to vote in November, compared with 57% of Republicans.
Democratic support was the highest either party had recorded on Fox News’ generic congressional ballot since 1996.
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