Republican ex-Sen. Jon Kyl has been picked to fill the late Sen. John McCain's seat in the upper chamber.
Kyl, 76, was the second highest ranking Republican in the Senate when he retired in 2013 after serving three terms.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced his choice of the former senator, who's now a Washington lobbyist, on Tuesday afternoon.
Kyl agreed to serve at least through the end of the year, Ducey told reporters at a news conference.
He hasn’t committed to serving until 2020, when there would need to be a special election to fill the final two years of McCain’s term.
Ducey announced his decision after a series of memorial services for McCain last week and his burial Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. McCain died Aug. 25 after a long struggle with brain cancer.
“I am deeply grateful to Senator Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and colleague of so many years,” Ducey wrote. “Every single day that Jon Kyl represents #Arizona in the U.S. Senate is a day our state is well-served."
He is a lawyer, who has been acting in recent weeks as the top liaison — a role often referred to as a "sherpa" — to the Senate on behalf of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Last year, Kyl did the same for Jeff Sessions’ contentious nomination to become attorney general
The political stakes are high since Kyl could participate in the vote on whether to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kyl also has been conducting an internal review for Facebook Inc. amid allegations of anti-conservative bias in the company’s treatment of content. Trump spent much of last week repeating the claim that Facebook and other social media companies censor conservatives.
The companies largely reject the accusation. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, is due to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday on foreign attempts to meddle in U.S. politics using the platforms, and is likely to face questions about the alleged bias.
As of the end of the second quarter, Kyl served as an outside lobbyist through his law firm, Covington & Buring LLP, for at least one client, according to government disclosures. In recent months, though, his lobbying work with Northrop Grumman Corp., the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America trade group, Qualcomm Inc. and Georgetown University has ended, the disclosures say.
Kyl served as the No. 2 Republican under then Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is now majority leader. Kyl’s understated demeanor belied his role as one of the toughest opponents of former President Barack Obama’s policies.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Kyl battled Obama to preserve President George W. Bush’s tax cuts. On the Judiciary Committee and as a lawmaker from a state that shares a border with Mexico, Kyl had a key role in the debate over immigration law.
President Donald Trump praised the selection on Twitter:
"Jon Kyl will be an extraordinary Senator representing an extraordinary state, Arizona. I look forward to working with him!" the president tweeted.
This report contains material from Bloomberg, Reuters, and The Associated Press.
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