Triumphant Sen. Mark Kelly says Arizona, U.S. voters want an end to divisiveness

Voters in Arizona and across the country sent a message in the midterm elections that they want an end to divisive politics, Sen. Mark Kelly said Saturday at a gathering in Phoenix to mark his victory over Republican Blake Masters.

Flanked by dozens of union workers at Barrio Café and with his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., at his side, Kelly thanked the tens of thousands who worked for his campaign team or chipped in to help finance the effort.

But Kelly also said his projected win over Republican Blake Masters is part of a national call for more cooperation in Washington, and that at least some in Congress feel the same way.

Asked whether his triumph owed more to Arizona's evolving politics or a rejection of former President Donald Trump, Kelly offered an answer that could apply to many of the Trump-endorsed candidates who have not broken through with voters, based on the unofficial results so far.

"I think Arizonans want people to work hard and that are not going to try to divide us. (the late Sen.) John McCain didn't do that," Kelly said. "Lately, we've had some folks running for office that it became a thing about them against us. That's not the way the world works. And it shouldn't.

"I'll tell you what, that's not the way the United States Senate works either. I've gotten congratulations from Republican colleagues on winning this race, senators I work with today, because, just like me, they just want to get stuff done for the American people. When we divide each other into groups, it's just harder to solve these problems."

The problems range from drought in the West to increasingly tense relations with China, Kelly said. He declined to identify those in the GOP who he said have congratulated him.

Majority incoming? Mark Kelly wins reelection to US Senate, defeats Blake Masters

Kelly's message was an extension of his campaign persona as an independent willing to cross party lines as needed. Masters and his GOP allies cast Kelly as little more than a rubber stamp for President Joe Biden and his agenda.

Kelly said he "looks forward" to talking to Masters at some point.

"He ran a good race, and ultimately voters make a decision," Kelly said. Trump's political style fell flat with voters, he said.

"We have lived through some challenging, divisive times here. Like I said earlier, I think it's best as a country when we get away from language that is made to divide us, and that's what I've tried to do."

In a Twitter message Saturday, Masters offered thanks to his operation as well and suggested he could concede if the election is properly concluded.

"For my people who knocked doors in 115 degree heat, and for the million+ Arizonans who put their faith in me, we are going to make sure that every legal vote is counted," Masters wrote.

"If, at the end, Senator Kelly has more of them than I do, then I will congratulate him on a hard-fought victory. But voters decide, not the media; let's count the votes."

Kelly defended the elections process, saying he agreed with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey's assessment following the 2020 election that Arizona has a robust, fair, ballot-counting process.

"Nobody should think for a second that somebody is trying to cheat somebody else," Kelly said.

Kelly's apparent win gives Democrats a 49th seat in the Senate and means that control of the chamber depends on the outcome of the still-unsettled races in Nevada or Georgia.

If Democrats win either, they will maintain control.

In Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., holds a narrow lead over Republican Herschel Walker in a race headed for a Dec. 6 runoff. That contest won't feature a Libertarian candidate who has garnered about 2% of the votes so far.

In Nevada, Republican Adam Laxalt held a shrinking lead over Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., with many of the ballots still to be counted coming from Democrat-leaning Clark County.

Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mark Kelly celebrates Senate reelection after defeating Blake Masters