Former Republican senator Jon Kyl dies at 84, family announces

Former Arizona senator and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl has died at the age of 84, his family announced Thursday.

The Republican politician was first elected to the US Senate in 1994 and was sworn in the following year and served until his retirement in 2013.

Kyl briefly returned to the Senate in 2018 after being appointed by then-Arizona governor Doug Ducey to fill the seat left vacant following the death of Senator John McCain.

Before joining the Senate, Kyl represented Arizona in the US House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.

In December 2025, Kyl announced he was stepping away from public life after being diagnosed with a neurological disease that resulted in dementia.

Ducey paid tribute to Kyl on X following news of his death.

"Jon Kyl gave Arizona nearly three decades of principled, thoughtful leadership — and he gave me something just as valuable: his mentorship and friendship. I'll miss him deeply. Rest in peace, Senator Kyl," Ducey wrote.

Former Arizona senator Jeff Flake also paid tribute, writing: "Arizona has lost a giant."

Flake described Kyl as “one of the most diligent and effective public servants Arizona has ever had” and offered condolences to his family.