Senator Jon Kyl will resign from the U.S. Senate on December 31, leaving Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to appoint his replacement.
Mr. Kyl, a former senator who served the Grand Canyon State for 18 years, was appointed by Governor Ducey to replace the late John McCain, whom he served with.
“Thank you for appointing me to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by John McCain’s death,” he wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to again serve the people of Arizona.”
But in a hand-delivered letter dated December 12, he informed the governor of his reasons behind the resignation.
“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.”
Governor Ducey has been lobbied to choose former Rep. Martha McSally to replace Senator Kyl. She was defeated by incoming Democratic Senator-elect Kyrsten Sinema in 2018.
Sources also tell People’s Pundit Daily that Kirk Adams was floated as a potential replacement.
Mr. Adams is a former Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, who served as Speaker from 2009 to 2011. He was serving as co-chair for the governor’s transition committee when it was announced that he would be Chief of Staff in 2014.
