Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl (R), a longtime lawmaker who spent nearly three decades in Congress and later returned to Washington following the death of Sen. John McCain, has died at age 84.
Kyl died Wednesday from complications related to a neurological disease, his family said. His death was announced Thursday, Sept. 17, according to multiple reports. Kyl had stepped away from public life in December 2025 after disclosing that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
Arizona Senate Republicans announced his death while paying tribute to his lengthy career in public service.
“Arizona has lost one of its finest statesmen,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “Jon Kyl combined conservative conviction with an extraordinary command of policy and a deep respect for public service.”
The statement credited Kyl with working on national defense, tax policy and water issues that shaped Arizona for decades.
Kyl began serving Arizona’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House in 1987 after winning election the previous year. He spent four terms in the House before winning an open Senate seat in 1994.
He served in the Senate from 1995 until his initial retirement in 2013 and eventually rose to become the Senate Republican whip, making him the party’s second-ranking member in the chamber.
Throughout his Senate career, Kyl played a prominent role in debates involving national security, taxes, immigration and judicial nominations.
He also became closely associated with Arizona water policy, helping negotiate agreements involving water access and tribal water rights.
Among his major accomplishments was his work on a 2004 water settlement involving the Gila River Indian Community. Arizona State University later named its Kyl Center for Water Policy in recognition of his work on the issue.
Kyl’s first retirement from the Senate did not permanently end his congressional career.
Following McCain’s death in August 2018, then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Kyl to temporarily fill McCain’s vacant Senate seat.
Kyl returned to Washington in September 2018 and served for several months before resigning at the end of that year. Republican Martha McSally was subsequently appointed to the seat.
Kyl also played a role in Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s 2018 confirmation process, helping guide Kavanaugh through meetings with senators before ultimately returning to the Senate himself.
Tributes following Kyl’s death came from political figures across party lines.
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs described Kyl as a dedicated public servant, while former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake called him an important figure in the state’s political history. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., remembered Kyl as a close friend and a committed legislator, per Trending Politics.
Arizona Senate Republicans said Kyl’s approach to policymaking and public service continued to serve as an example for state lawmakers.
“Senator Kyl understood that public service is about more than holding office,” their statement said. “It is about protecting the country, solving difficult problems, and leaving the next generation stronger than the one before it.”
Kyl is survived by his wife, Caryll, their children and grandchildren.
