By Trendsetter Tribune 
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is turning President Donald Trump’s attacks into political momentum, leveraging his growing national profile to raise and distribute millions of dollars for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms — while quietly laying groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential run.
As Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth increasingly single Kelly out as a political adversary, the Democratic senator has emerged as one of the party’s most active fundraisers. According to figures shared with POLITICO, Kelly gave or helped raise nearly $5 million in 2025 alone, directing money to competitive candidates, party committees, and state parties across the country.
The attention escalated in late November, when Trump accused Kelly and other national security Democrats of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” in a Truth Social post — a remark that immediately boosted Kelly’s visibility. That spotlight intensified further after Hegseth announced an investigation into Kelly, effectively turning the senator into one of the administration’s most prominent Democratic foils.
Rather than retreat, Kelly capitalized.
Kelly has made more than $1.4 million in direct contributions, including $100,000 each to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, along with more than $280,000 to the Democratic National Committee and state parties. As vice chair of the DSCC, he has raised or contributed more than $2.3 million for Senate Democrats since the start of last year, including $1 million in the fourth quarter alone through fundraising emails, texts, and ads.
He has also contributed directly to roughly 30 state Democratic parties, with a notable focus on early presidential nominating states such as Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Kelly has traveled to South Carolina twice and Michigan once, in addition to visits to Nevada and other battlegrounds, fueling speculation about national ambitions.
Nevada Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno said Kelly’s message resonates broadly with voters in the state. “He drew a very diverse crowd,” she told POLITICO, adding that Kelly has “definitely sparked the interest” of Nevada Democrats as 2028 chatter intensifies.
Beyond early states, Kelly has campaigned for Democrats in off-year elections in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Virginia. His team frames the effort as strategic, not self-serving.
“Senator Kelly is working overtime to support Democrats running in tough races because he knows that taking back the House and Senate is critical to holding Trump accountable,” said Kelly spokesperson Jacob Peters.
The dynamic underscores a broader political reality: Trump’s tendency to elevate Democratic rivals through public attacks can inadvertently strengthen their national standing. California Gov. Gavin Newsom experienced a similar boost last year, and Kelly now appears to be benefiting from the same effect.
Some Republicans privately acknowledge the risk. One GOP operative close to the White House told POLITICO that Trump’s ability to elevate potential challengers could shape the Democratic field — intentionally or not.
Not all Republicans are convinced Kelly poses a serious threat. New Hampshire GOP consultant Dave Carney dismissed Kelly as “a press thing,” contrasting him with figures like Newsom, whom Republicans see as easier targets due to their records. Carney singled out Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as the Democrat Republicans most hope Trump avoids elevating, citing Shapiro’s fundraising prowess and broader appeal.
Still, Trump’s unpredictable targeting may leave Democrats navigating a constantly shifting landscape of favored — or targeted — figures.
As one Republican strategist bluntly put it, the president has shown he can “beat the hell out of more than one person at a time.”
For Kelly, at least for now, the blows appear to be turning into fuel.