Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, a key Republican figure, dies at 84
Kyl, who served in both the House and Senate, was known for his work on water policy and his role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
PHOENIX — Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a prominent Republican lawmaker from Arizona recognized for his influence on Western water policies and his role in shaping the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, died Wednesday. He was 84.
Kyl died following a battle with a neurological disorder, according to Gordon James, a friend of the Kyl family. Kyl had stepped away from public life in December 2025 after announcing his diagnosis with dementia.
His nearly three-decade career in Congress spanned significant shifts in the Republican party, from the Reagan administration to President Donald Trump's first term. Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who considered Kyl a mentor, described him as a statesman and a dedicated public servant who diligently studied legislative matters.
Kyl reached a leadership position as minority whip during his final full Senate term. After retiring in 2013 and engaging in lobbying, he briefly returned to the Senate in 2018 when Ducey appointed him to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. John McCain. His temporary return was met with approval from then-President Trump. Kyl served for less than four months before returning to his lobbying firm.
"At the federal level, and I regret to say that this is the case, but probably a lot of my better achievements were in preventing bad things from happening (rather) than forcing good things to happen," Kyl reflected in a 2012 conversation with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Born in Oakland, Nebraska, on April 25, 1942, Kyl grew up in Iowa before moving to Arizona for college. He earned a law degree from the University of Arizona, where he met his wife, Caryll.
Before his election to the House of Representatives in 1987, Kyl played a significant role in drafting Arizona's 1980 groundwater code. This landmark legislation established a regulatory framework for managing groundwater resources in the drought-prone state, focusing on metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Tucson.
In 2004, Kyl was instrumental in a tribal water rights settlement for the Gila River Indian Community, securing a substantial water allocation after a protracted dispute. Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell lauded Kyl's work ethic in 2012, noting his extensive behind-the-scenes efforts on the settlement.
"It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I was in a position to be the catalyst," Kyl told the Phoenix New Times in 2006. "There wasn’t anybody else who could do that water deal. And it had to be done."
The Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University bears his name. Its director, Sarah Porter, recalled Kyl's dedication to public service and his pragmatic approach to water policy, noting his continued vigor until recent years.
Ducey characterized Kyl as a "giant" in the Senate, emphasizing his seriousness, thoughtfulness, and ability to unite the Republican caucus, particularly in opposing the Affordable Care Act. Kyl was also a strong proponent of U.S. support for Israel.
Kyl supported legislation for a border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and later co-sponsored a bill that proposed a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, though it ultimately failed.
During his time as a lobbyist, Kyl notably guided the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In 2018, Kyl was referred to as Kavanaugh's "chief Sherpa" during his Senate confirmation hearings.
In a statement announcing his dementia diagnosis, Kyl drew a parallel to former President Ronald Reagan's revelation of his own Alzheimer's diagnosis, expressing confidence in the future of Arizona and the nation.