How to replace John McCain? Here's how the process works

Mary Jo Pitzl | The Republic | azcentral.com

It will be up to Gov. Doug Ducey to appoint the replacement for U.S. Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday while still in office.

On Friday, the McCain family had said the senator was ending medical treatment for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer.

Arizona's Republican governor has few limitations on his choice, according to state law. The replacement must be a Republican, as McCain was, and would serve in the U.S. Senate until voters elect a new senator in the next general election.

Although there is a general election on Nov. 6, McCain's successor would serve at least until the following general election in 2020. The winner of that election would serve the rest of McCain's six-year term, which ends after the 2022 election in January 2023.

McCain's death requires that a Senate seat be filled through gubernatorial appointment for the first time in Arizona's 105-year history.

READ MORE: Lawmakers focus on rules for filling a vacant Senate seat

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake's seat is at its six-year limit in 2018, and Flake chose not to seek re-election.

In July 2017, when McCain announced his brain-cancer diagnosis, Ducey repeatedly ruled out appointing himself. Speculation had swirled ever since over whom he would tap: A placeholder who would not seek to run for a full term? Or someone who would intend to defend the seat in the next general election.

If Ducey were to tap one of Arizona's congressional members, the election schedule would get even busier. That's because a vacancy in the House must be filled by a special election and cannot wait until the regular 2020 primary and general elections.

"The really interesting scenario would be if the governor appointed a sitting congressman," said Eric Spencer, the state elections director. That would trigger a special primary and general election to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives, Spencer said.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.

READ MORE: