Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a prominent Republican from Arizona who played a significant role in shaping water policy in the American West and helped guide the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, died Wednesday. He was 84.
Kyl's death was attributed to a neurological disorder. He had stepped away from public life in December 2025 after disclosing a diagnosis of dementia.
Over nearly 30 years in Congress, Kyl witnessed and participated in a significant transformation of the Republican Party, with his career spanning from the Reagan administration to Donald Trump's presidency. Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who considered Kyl a mentor, characterized him as a dedicated statesman and a "workhorse" in Washington, D.C.
"If you saw him on the plane, he was sitting in the aisle, in coach, and he was reading," Ducey recalled. "And he was reading potential bills or Senate business."
Kyl ascended to a leadership position in his final full Senate term, serving as the Republican minority whip. After retiring in 2013 and entering lobbying, he briefly returned to Congress in 2018 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. John McCain. His appointment was praised by President Trump, who anticipated working with the "extraordinary senator." Kyl's return was short-lived, lasting less than four months before he rejoined the lobbying firm Covington and Burling.
Reflecting on his career, Kyl noted in a 2012 conversation with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that many of his notable achievements involved preventing unfavorable outcomes rather than enacting new policies.
Born in Oakland, Nebraska, on April 25, 1942, Kyl grew up in Iowa. He later attended the University of Arizona, where he met his wife, Caryll, and earned a law degree.
Before his election to the House of Representatives in 1987, Kyl was a key figure in the development of Arizona's 1980 groundwater code. As an attorney for a major water utility, he helped craft the pioneering regulatory framework for groundwater management in the drought-prone state, primarily focusing on populous areas like Phoenix and Tucson.
In 2004, Kyl was the author of legislation that facilitated one of the largest tribal water rights settlements in the U.S. After years of contention, the Gila River Indian Community was granted sufficient water rights to fill nearly 313,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, then a leading Republican, lauded Kyl's "legendary" work ethic, noting his behind-the-scenes efforts over 15 years to advance the settlement.
"It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I was in a position to be the catalyst," Kyl stated in a 2006 interview. "There wasn’t anybody else who could do that water deal. And it had to be done."
Arizona State University's Kyl Center for Water Policy is named in his honor. Its director, Sarah Porter, described Kyl as a generous and effective legislator with a practical approach to water issues, always considering long-term implications for the public good.
Ducey further described Kyl as a "giant" in the Senate, known for his serious demeanor, engagement, and thoughtful approach. His significant contributions, Ducey noted, included maintaining Republican caucus unity against the Affordable Care Act and his strong advocacy for Israel.
Kyl also supported legislation for a border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and later collaborated with Democrats on a failed immigration bill that proposed a pathway to citizenship and a temporary guest-worker program.
In his 2018 role as a guide for Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, Kyl was informally known as Kavanaugh's "chief Sherpa" for navigating the Senate confirmation process.
In his statement announcing his dementia diagnosis, Kyl referenced Ronald Reagan's announcement of his own Alzheimer's diagnosis, expressing similar confidence in the future of Arizona and the nation, and deeming himself a "very fortunate man."