Democrat Mark Kelly wins US Senate race in Arizona

Jonathan J. Cooper/AP

Updated: Nov 4, 2020 / 02:37 AM EST

Mark Kelly, Arizona Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, removes his mask as he prepares to speak at an election night event Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP) — Democrat Mark Kelly has won the Arizona Senate seat once held by John McCain.

Arizona Republican Sen. Martha McSally campaigns at Republican Party Headquarters Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in Phoenix. McSally is running against Democratic candidate Mark Kelly in the election set for tomorrow. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The former astronaut defeated Republican Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Doug Ducey after McCain’s death in 2018.

The contest is a special election to finish McCain’s term, so Kelly could be sworn in as early as Nov. 30, when the results are officially certified.

Kelly flew combat missions for the Navy during Operation Desert Storm before becoming a test pilot and later an astronaut. He flew four missions to the International Space Station.

He is the husband of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head and wounded in an attempted assassination during a constituent event in Tucson in 2011.