Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for Senate, may have another shot at becoming a senator in the near future.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has had conversations with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey about selecting McSally to replace Sen. Jon Kyl, who was tapped by Ducey after Sen. John McCain’s death this summer.
But Kyl may not fulfill the remainder of his term through 2020, meaning that Ducey could appoint a replacement that would serve until 2020. A special election would then be held in 2020 to determine who would hold the seat through 2022.
According to CNN, Kyl has determined whether he will remain in the Senate or not, but has not yet disclosed his decision. Meanwhile, McConnell and other Republican figures are advocating for McSally to replace Kyl if he departs the Senate.
Kyl praised McSally last week during an interview with CNN, saying, “I regret that she didn’t make it in her election.”
“Martha McSally would be a very good member of the United States Senate, however she got there,” Kyl said.
“I can’t think of anybody more qualified than Martha McSally,” Kyl added.
In speaking to CNN, Kyl emphasized that Ducey would make the final call on an appointment and said that his remarks about McSally “have nothing to do with any potential candidate to replace me.”
Kyl has also said that he is in regular contact with Ducey, and that he doesn’t anticipate an announcement will be made in the near future.
Meanwhile, an aide for Ducey said that the governor was optimistic Kyl would continue to serve the remainder of his term.
“The governor is hopeful that Kyl will continue to serve in the appointed Senate seat through 2020,” said Daniel Ruiz, a senior adviser for Ducey. “At this point we would not speculate on a vacancy that does not exist.”
Sinema won her bid for Senate last Monday and obtained 49.68 percent, or 1,097,321, of votes while McSally received only 47.96 percent, or 1,059,124 votes, according to the Arizona secretary of state’s office.
