Astronaut Kelly Said Mulling Political Future

Speculation is rising that Mark Kelly, former astronaut and husband to injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., will seek elective office. He may have his eye on the seat of Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who is retiring, The Washington Post reports.

Kelly, 47, announced his retirement from the Navy and NASA this week and the Gulf War veteran wrote on Facebook, “After some time off, I will look at new opportunities and am hopeful that one day I will again serve our country.”

The Post reported that Kelly could not be reached for comment and a NASA spokesman told the paper Kelly was not giving interviews on the subject. Giffords, recovering from a head wound suffered in a Tucson shooting incident that killed six, also has political decisions to make.

She could run for reelection to her House seat, run for the open Senate seat or simply resign, the Post reported. Should she resign, Kelly would be a “logical successor.”