John McCain and Jon Kyl leave the Senate Chamber for the caucus at the U.S. Capitol in Washington December 30, 2012. (REUTERS/Mary Calvert)

Former U.S. senator Jon Kyl will succeed former senator John McCain, the Arizona Republic reported on Tuesday.

Arizona governor Doug Ducey announced Kyl’s appointment at the Arizona capitol on Tuesday morning. Kyl, who represented Arizona in the Senate for 18 years before he retired in 2013, has reportedly agreed to serve through the end of the year at a minimum.


Kyl shares McCain’s conservative bona fides and is viewed by the Ducey administration as the obvious choice to complete McCain’s unfinished business due to his years of Senate experience.

“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. I am deeply grateful to Senator Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and colleague of so many years.”

Kyl, who could be sworn in as soon as Tuesday night, was asked to consider succeeding his longtime friend and colleague just hours after McCain passed away on Saturday night, following a battle with brain cancer.

Cindy McCain, who was reportedly consulted during the search process, celebrated Kyl’s appointment in a statement on Tuesday morning.


“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 tweeted shortly after it became clear that Kyl would succeed her husband.


The veteran lawmaker will take his seat in Washington as the Senate considers the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In his capacity as a private citizen, Kyl has worked in recent months to shepherd Kavanaugh through the confirmation process.

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