Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey punted, choosing the political safety of a short-term placeholder over an ambitious appointment that might have shaped the future of the seat left vacant with the death of iconic Sen. John McCain.
Ducey on Tuesday selected Republican Jon Kyl. A former senator who served in leadership, Kyl is a respected conservative who is competent and experienced. But he committed to serve only through the beginning of next year, a convenient timeline that allows Ducey to get past a dicey re-election bid without risking blowback from GOP cliques whose support he needs to win.
“Gov. Ducey is trying to appease the Trump and McCain factions of the Arizona GOP and not harm his re-election prospects this fall,” said Dan Eberhart, an energy executive and wealthy Republican donor from Arizona, referring to pragmatic wing of the party that always supported McCain and the more activist base that backs President Trump.
Leading up to the Ducey’s announcement, the informed speculation was that the governor would appoint a successor to McCain who would run in the 2020 special election to complete the final two year’s of McCain’s sixth term, and, presuming victory, stand for re-election two years later.
Finding a strong contender who could position the Republicans to hold the McCain seat in 2020 and beyond, while satisfying the party’s competing factions and showing respect to the McCain family, was Ducey’s big challenge. In part, the desire was put an incumbent in place who might discourage a bitter primary and box out flawed candidates like Republican Kelli Ward, who fell short against Rep. Martha McSally in last month’s GOP Senate primary.
In going with Kyl, it appears as though the governor has delayed the decision to a later date when he might have a freer hand.
If Kyl does exit in January, Ducey, presuming he wins re-election, could appoint McSally if she loses in the midterm election to Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema. However, some insiders suggest that McSally losing the general election this year would disqualify her from being chosen to succeed Kyl.
Others suspect that Ducey is trying to lay a foundation for his chief of staff, Kirk Adams, to run for McCain’s seat in the 2020 special election.
