Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., stated Sunday that Democrats must improve their performance to secure control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. He emphasized the need for the party to pass legislation that benefits the American people.
Recent polls suggest many midterm races are close, with some indicating potential Democratic gains. Charlie Cook, founder of the Cook Political Report, predicted Democrats would win both the House of Representatives and the Senate, describing the trend as a "red undertow" rather than a "blue wave."
Kelly asserted that many Americans are frustrated with the current economic situation and that Republicans and the administration lack sufficient answers. He pointed to the war with Iran as a significant factor potentially influencing voters, stating that the conflict and associated tariffs have negatively impacted Americans' ability to afford daily necessities.
"War and tariffs caused by Donald Trump and enabled by the Republicans in the United States Congress are just killing the American people," Kelly said. "I mean, they cannot afford their lives, and when you can't, when you're having a hard time feeding your kid, I mean, nothing else really matters."
Kelly criticized the administration's handling of the Iran conflict, stating the president entered it without a clear strategy, plan, timeline, or exit strategy, calling it a "disaster" and a "mistake" due to "failed leadership."
Regarding artificial intelligence, Kelly expressed concern over the pace of development and the administration's approach. He noted that President Trump's recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping did not appear to result in a substantive agreement on regulating AI, only the establishment of a working group.
"This technology is moving very, very quickly. It could be very disruptive to hardworking Americans, could lose their jobs," Kelly said. "There's safety concerns about this, and the White House, specifically the president, doesn't seem to think we should put any guardrails in place."
Kelly echoed Trump's sentiment about the importance of leading in AI development but stressed the need for caution. "At the same time, we can't allow the Chinese to win the race to getting the best AI technology. That would be a mistake," he added.