What Happened to Jon Llewellyn Kyl?

Jon Llewellyn Kyl was a significant figure in Arizona and national politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for nearly three decades. Born on April 25, 1942, in Oakland, Nebraska, Kyl earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Arizona, where he also served as editor-in-chief of the Arizona Law Review. Before entering politics, he practiced law in Phoenix for two decades.

Kyl's political career began with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986, where he served four terms until 1995. He then successfully campaigned for a U.S. Senate seat in 1994, serving three full terms until his initial retirement in January 2013. During his time in the Senate, Kyl became a key Republican leader, chairing the Republican Policy Committee and the Republican Conference before being elected Senate Minority Whip in 2007, a position he held until his retirement. He was recognized for his command of policy, particularly on national security, tax, and water issues, and was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.

After his initial retirement from the Senate in 2013, Kyl joined the lobbying firm Covington & Burling as a senior advisor, where he advised companies on various policy matters. A significant turning point in his post-Senate career came in September 2018 when Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed him to temporarily fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator John McCain. During this brief but impactful return, Kyl played a crucial role in shepherding the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. He resigned from the Senate at the end of December 2018, as he had committed to serving only until the end of the 115th Congress.

Following his second departure from the Senate, Kyl rejoined Covington & Burling in January 2019, continuing his work as a senior advisor. His influence also extended to water policy, with the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University named in his honor, recognizing his efforts in tribal water rights settlements and state water rules. In December 2025, Kyl announced his diagnosis with dementia and his decision to withdraw from public life, expressing gratitude for his family's support. The University of Arizona also announced it would serve as the repository for his papers. Jon Kyl passed away on September 17, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 84, due to complications from his neurological disease. He is remembered as a 'workhorse' and a 'quiet but effective policy expert, political operator and party leader' who left a lasting impact on Arizona and national policy.