Martha McSally

Martha McSally
Official portrait, 2019
United States Senator from Arizona
In office January 3, 2019 – December 2, 2020
Appointed by	Doug Ducey
Preceded by	Jon Kyl
Succeeded by	Mark Kelly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Ron Barber
Succeeded by	Ann Kirkpatrick
Personal details
Born	Martha Elizabeth McSally (1966-03-22) March 22, 1966 (age 58) Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Donald Henry ​ ​ (m. 1997; ann. 1999)​
Education	United States Air Force Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPP)
Website	Campaign website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1988–2010
Rank	Colonel
Commands	354th Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars	Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom
Martha McSally's voice McSally introduces Michael Liburdi at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Recorded February 13, 2019

Martha Elizabeth McSally (born March 22, 1966) is an American politician and former military pilot who has represented Arizona in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

McSally served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 2010, achieving the rank of colonel. She is the first U.S. woman to fly in combat and also the first to command a fighter squadron. In 2001, McSally successfully sued the United States Department of Defense in McSally v. Rumsfeld, challenging the military policy that required U.S. and UK servicewomen stationed in Saudi Arabia to wear the body-covering abaya when traveling off base in the country.

A member of the Republican Party, McSally ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, but was unsuccessful. She was elected to the House in 2014 and represented Arizona's 2nd congressional district from 2015 to 2019. McSally was the Republican nominee in Arizona's 2018 U.S. Senate election, losing to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. After interim Senator Jon Kyl resigned from the state's other Senate seat (to which he had been appointed following the death of longtime Senator John McCain), Governor Doug Ducey appointed McSally to replace Kyl. In 2020, a special election was held to determine who would serve the remainder of McCain's unexpired Senate term; McSally was defeated by Democratic nominee Mark Kelly.

McSally opposes same-sex marriage and opposes abortion in "nearly all cases", asserting that both issues should be decided at the state level. She advocates increased military spending. McSally opposed and voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and supported the unsuccessful attempt to pass American Health Care Act of 2017. Though criticizing Obama's use of executive action to create it, she supported Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals until 2018 and expressed concern about President Donald Trump's travel ban and the family separation policy.