Former Sen. Jon Kyl will return to Washington to replace the late John McCain, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday.

The 76-year-old could be sworn in as early as Tuesday night.

McCain died on Aug. 25 at 81 years old — just one day after announcing he would no longer seek treatment for an aggressive brain tumor. The onus fell on the governor to appoint someone to serve until 2020 — when an election will determine who serves the remainder of McCain’s term through 2022 — because the deadline had passed to call a special election this year.

Kyl spent 18 years in the US Senate before retiring in 2013 as a ranking Republican.

Ducey had to appoint a Republican, and politics-watchers wondered whether he would choose a moderate voice to echo McCain, who became a vocal critic of President Trump.

Kyl, however, appears to be cozy with the administration. Lately, he has worked to shepherd Trump’s controversial appointments through the Senate approval process, AZCentral reported.

He was the “sherpa” to Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his confirmation process, and lately has been helping Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh prepare for Senate confirmation hearings that began Tuesday.

“There is no one in Arizona more prepared to represent our state in the US Senate than Jon Kyl,” Ducey said in a statement. “He understands how the Senate functions and will make an immediate and positive impact benefiting all Arizonans. I am deeply grateful to Senator Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and colleague of so many years.

“Every single day that Jon Kyl represents Arizona in the United States Senate is a day when our state is being well-served.”

McCain’s widow, Cindy, often floated as a possible replacement, tweeted her support for Kyl Tuesday.

“John 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.

Ducey had said he would wait until after McCain’s funeral Sunday to name his successor.

Ducey’s aide is expected to fly to Washington to hand-deliver the required paperwork to the Senate, AZCentral reported. The swearing in could come Tuesday night or early Wednesday.