Kelly overtakes McSally in Arizona Senate race, poll finds

PHOENIX — Democratic challenger Mark Kelly’s pursuit of the seat held by U.S. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona continues to gain support, according to polling conducted this week.

The OH Predictive Insights poll released Tuesday has Kelly with a 46%-41% lead over the Republican incumbent.

An OH Predictive poll from May had McSally with a 45%-44% lead, and polling in February soon after Kelly announced his candidacy had McSally up 46%-44%.

The poll of 600 likely Arizona voters was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday and has a margin error of plus or minus 4%. Thirteen percent of voters were undecided about the matchup.

“We are still in August 2019 and the Arizona Senate race is already exciting — expect the numbers to start moving when these two fundraising juggernauts start spending heavy and hard,” poll manager Mike Noble said in a press release.

The poll also looked at the candidates’ favorability.

McSally’s favorability was 47%, compared to 45% who didn’t see her as favorable.

Kelly’s favorability was 44% and only 25% of voters considered him unfavorable, but he’s a lesser-known candidate than the sitting senator.

Thirty-one percent of voters had no opinion of Kelly, while just 8% of voters had no opinion of McSally.

McSally is in her first Senate term after being appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to replace Jon Kyl, who stepped down at the end of 2018. Kyl had been appointed to succeed the late John McCain, who died in August.

Democrat Kyrsten Sinema defeated McSally in November for the seat to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Jeff Flake.

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