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Former Republican United States Senator Jon Kyl Dies at 84
Just the facts
Jon Kyl served nearly three decades in Congress, representing Arizona for eight years in the House of Representatives and 18 years in the Senate before rising to Senate minority whip. He briefly returned to the Senate in 2018 after being appointed by former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator John McCain. During his career, Kyl assisted in guiding the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and authored the 2004 tribal water rights settlement for the Gila River Indian Community. Kyl had previously withdrawn from public life in December 2025 after announcing a diagnosis of dementia.
Why this is news
Former Republican United States Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona died on September 17, 2026, at the age of 84 following complications from a neurological disease.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.