Former Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl Dies at 84

By Sandra Rhodes (/journals/sandra-rhodes)

Former Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) died after a battle with dementia.

He was 84.

Kyl was sworn in to the Senate in 1995 and retired in 2013. He returned to the Senate in 2018 after former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) died.

Kyl announced he was retiring from public life in December 2025. He had been diagnosed with a neurological disease that resulted into dementia.

Kyl previously was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.

Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who appointed Kyl to fill McCain's seat in 2018, wrote about the former senator in a post on X Thursday.

"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 posted.

https://x.com/DougDucey/status/2100591472856727637?s=20

Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) who served in the Senate with Kyl, also posted remarks.

"Arizona has lost a giant. Jon Kyl was one of the most diligent and effective public servants Arizona has ever had. I was honored to follow him in the U.S. Senate, where his example of seriousness, integrity and devotion to public service was known to all. Cheryl and I send our deepest condolences to Caryll and the entire Kyl family," Flake posted on X.

https://x.com/JeffFlake/status/2100607324767338599?s=20