Arizona governor Doug Ducey has selected former Senator Jon Kyl to fill the seat left open after John McCain died of brain cancer on August 25.
“We all hoped today would never come. But it has come,” Ducey said in a press conference. “As I contemplated who could best serve our state in the United States Senate, I kept coming back to one name, and one person: Jon Kyl. There is no one in Arizona with the stature of Jon Kyl. He is a man without comparable peer. With nearly two decade’s experience in the Senate serving alongside John McCain, Senator Kyl is prepared to hit the ground running.”
Ducey said that while Kyl had assured him he would remain in the seat for the rest of this session of Congress, he had not yet committed to serve through 2020, when a special election will be held to fill out the rest of McCain’s term, which lasts through 2022. Ducey pointed to Kyl’s entensive time in Congress as his primary reasoning for the pick. “There is far too much work before the Senate” to appoint someone who does not have experience in Congress, Ducey said. “It’s not the time for newcomers, and now is not the time for on-the-job training.”
Kyle, 76, spent 26 years in Congress where he served as the Senate Republican whip. He retired in 2013. After he left the Senate, Kyl joined Covington & Burling, a Washington-based law firm, where he lobbied on behalf of companies and trade associations in various legislative debates—matters he will now get to cast votes on.
In recent days, Kyl has spent time on Capitol Hill helping President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, navigate the confirmation process. Kyl’s addition to the chamber, where Republicans hold a slim majority of just 51 votes, may play an important role in allowing Republicans to confirm Kavanaugh amid opposition from Democrats.
A number of Republicans quickly praised the selection, including McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain. “Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona,” she wrote.
Retiring Arizona senator Jeff Flake agreed, calling Kyl an “excellent choice.”
“There is no one more qualified and Arizona is well served,” he said in a tweet.
