A former aide to the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainAnalysis: Biden victory, Democratic sweep would bring biggest boost to economy The Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ariz.) said on Monday that the Senate giant probably would have wanted a Latina woman to succeed him.

"I think a Hispanic woman probably would've been his pick for a successor if he would've lived long enough," McCain's former campaign manager, Rick Davis, said during a news conference, according to The Arizona Republic.

"He's always been someone who's encouraged participation in politics, especially in the Republican Party, with minorities and women," Davis said.

ADVERTISEMENT

He also said McCain had considered what the replacement process would look like, but declined to share specifics.

"I think he was looking forward to retiring after this last term in office and enjoying that back porch in Sedona," Davis said, according to the newspaper. "He never got that far."

McCain died on Saturday, 13 months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said on Monday that he will wait until McCain is buried this weekend before naming his successor.

"Out of respect for the life and legacy of Senator John McCain and his family, Governor Ducey will not be making any announcements about an appointment until after the Senator is laid to rest,” Ducey's senior adviser, Daniel Ruiz II, said in a statement provided to The Hill. "Now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life well lived."

The list of potential successors that have been floated includes McCain's wife, Cindy McCain; Kirk Adams, Gov. Ducey's chief of staff; and Barbara Barrett, the first Republican woman to run for governor in the state and a former state lawmaker, the Republic reported.

There is little racial diversity in this list of candidates, the newspaper noted.

Ducey under Arizona state law is charged with appointing McCain’s successor to fill his seat until 2020. There will then be a special election to elect a candidate to finish out the two final years of McCain's term.

McCain served in Congress for decades and earned a reputation as a "maverick" of the Republican Party.