Mark Kelly to Join First Lady for State of the Union January 23, 2012, 12:49 pm Capt. Mark Kelly, the husband of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, will sit with Michelle Obama in the first lady's box at Tuesday's State of the Union speech, Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said on Monday. Ms. Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, is expected to attend the speech along with other lawmakers. She announced on Sunday that she would resign her seat this week in order to focus on her recovery after an assassination attempt in Tucson a year ago. The Obama campaign is hoping to make inroads this year in Arizona, which normally votes Republican, and help from the wildly popular Ms. Giffords and her husband is viewed as crucial to that effort. Mr. Carney said that President Obama called Mr. Kelly earlier Monday to "express his appreciation to Congresswoman Giffords," adding that the couple "embodies the very best of what public service should be."