Former Republican senator Jon Kyl was named Tuesday to fill the Arizona Senate seat held by the late Sen. John McCain.
The announcement by Gov. Doug Ducey comes at the start of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, whom Kyl is likely to vote for.
“Over the last few months Senator Kyl has been working closely with the White House on the Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. Now Sen. Kyl can cast a vote for Kavanaugh’s confirmation,” Ducey said when making the announcement.
Kyl will be set to hold the Senate seat until 2020, when a special election will be held for the seat for the remainder of McCain’s term through 2022.