Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) will leave the Senate on Dec. 31, giving Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) the chance to appoint yet another senator to take his place.
Jon Kyl
Ducey appointed Kyl to fill the vacancy left by Sen. John McCain’s death in August. When he accepted the appointment, Kyl said he would serve for the remainder of the 115th Congress with the option of resigning at the end of the year.
Kyl was previously elected to the Senate in 1994 and retired in 2013. Before his appointment, he practiced at Covington & Burling LLP and helped guide Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh‘s nomination in the Senate.
“Thank you for appointing me to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by John McCain’s death,” Kyl wrote in his letter of resignation to the governor. “It has been an honor and a privilege to again serve the people of Arizona.”
Gov. Ducey could appoint Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ, 2nd) to replace Kyl. She ran in the general election to succeed retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) this year but lost to Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ, 9th). Ducey’s former chief of staff Kirk Adams is another potential pick.
The new senator would serve until 2020 when the seat will be up for reelection. Ducey is expected to announce his choice before New Year’s Day.
