Jon Kyl will resign from Senate on Dec. 31, setting up another appointment by Ducey to McCain's seat
Sen. Jon Kyl will resign from the U.S. Senate on Dec. 31, setting up a second appointment by Gov. Doug Ducey to the seat once occupied by the late John McCain, The Arizona Republic has confirmed.
Ducey is required under law to name another Republican to the seat. A replacement to the Senate seat "will be announced in the near future," according to the governor's office.
Kyl wrote a letter dated Dec. 12 to Ducey, informing him of his resignation. The letter was hand-delivered to the governor's office late Thursday afternoon.
"Thank you for appointing me to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by John McCain's death," Kyl wrote. "It has been an honor and a privilege to again serve the people of Arizona.
"When I accepted your appointment, I agreed to complete the work of the 115th Congress and then reevaluate continuing to serve. I have concluded that it would be best if I resign so that your new appointee can begin the new term with all other Senators in January 2019 and can serve a full two (potentially four) years. Therefore, I will resign from the U.S. Senate effective 11:59 p.m. EST December 31, 2018."
Kyl succeeded McCain to the seat in September, after McCain's Aug. 25 death, with the understanding that he would serve at least until the end of the year and possibly until 2020, when the seat was on the ballot again. It became clear in recent weeks, as Kyl was hesitant to discuss his future in the Senate, that he would be leaving.
Kyl, who served alongside McCain during his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, retired from the chamber in 2013 after rising to become the second-highest-ranking Republican senator.
In a statement, Ducey praised Kyl's second stint on Capitol Hill, saying he served with "integrity and statesmanship" as the nation faced important issues.
“Senator Kyl didn’t need to return to the Senate," Ducey said in a statement. "His legacy as one of Arizona’s most influential and important political figures was already without question. But he did return, and I remain deeply grateful for his willingness to step up and serve again when Arizona needed him. I wish him and his family all the best."
It is unclear if Kyl intends to return to joined the high-powered Washington, D.C., law firm Covington & Burling. As senior adviser, he helped clients on issues including taxes, health care, defense, national security and intellectual property.
The governor and his aides have been tight-lipped about who may be under consideration to replace Kyl.
There is intense interest from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, for Ducey to appoint outgoing Rep. Martha McSally, the Republican who lost to Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for Arizona's other U.S. Senate seat. Sinema will be sworn into office Jan. 3.
Republican donors spent millions of dollars McSally's election effort and likely want to see that investment pay dividends. Ducey and McSally met recently, but it is unclear if there was discussion about a Senate appointment.
Other names have been mentioned as well, including Ducey's former chief-of-staff, Kirk Adams, and state Treasurer Eileen Klein.
Ducey will have to weigh pressure from power players in the White House and on Capitol Hill against advice by friends, staffers and other voices in Arizona.
It is not known if Ducey has discussed his next appointment to the seat with McCain's widow, Cindy McCain.
More: If Jon Kyl leaves the Senate, here are 3 people Gov. Doug Ducey might pick as replacement
More: Sen. Jon Kyl: U.S. military isn't prepared for war with Russia or China
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jon Kyl will resign from Senate on Dec. 31, setting up another appointment by Ducey to McCain's seat
