Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) on Tuesday named Jon Kyl to fill the late John McCain’s Senate seat.

“There is no one in Arizona more prepared to represent our state in the U.S. 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.”

Kyl, 76, previously served 18 years in the U.S. Senate, becoming the second-highest-ranked GOP senator before retiring in 2013. According to the Arizona Republic, he has agreed to serve at least through the end of this year. If Kyl chooses to step down at that point, Ducey will have to name another successor.

Kyl said he would not run for the seat in 2020.

Tom Williams via Getty Images Former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), left, seen on July 10 as he escorts Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Vice President Mike Pence to meetings with senators.

Kyl joined top K Street firm Covington & Burling shortly after his retirement in 2013, and was recently retained by Facebook to help the social media network combat partisan bias in its news distribution. Ducey contacted Kyl in the hours after McCain’s death on Aug. 25 to see if he’d return to Capitol Hill.

The governor said in his statement he was “deeply grateful” to Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and former colleague McCain.

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

President Donald Trump, who was frequently critical of McCain, praised his replacement:

Jon Kyl will be an extraordinary Senator representing an extraordinary state, Arizona. I look forward to working with him! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018

Cindy McCain, wife of the late senator, tweeted about Kyl on Tuesday, calling him “a dear friend”:

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. — Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 4, 2018

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) also praised the choice.

Governor Ducey has selected Senator Jon Kyl as Senator McCain’s replacement. What an excellent choice! There is no one more qualified and Arizona is well served. Kudos to Senator Kyl for his willingness to serve once again. — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 4, 2018

This story has been updated.

Eliot Nelson contributed to this report.