Immediate Successor After John McCain
Following John McCain's death in August 2018, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed Jon Kyl to fill the vacant Senate seat. Kyl, a former U.S. Senator and Republican, served briefly until he resigned at the end of 2018.
Appointed and Elected Replacements
After Kyl's resignation, Governor Ducey appointed Martha McSally to the seat. McSally, a former Air Force pilot and Republican, served until the 2020 special election. She later lost the concurrent regular election to Democrat Mark Kelly.
Current and Upcoming Status
Mark Kelly won the 2020 special election and the 2022 regular election, becoming the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. He currently holds the seat once occupied by John McCain, serving a full six-year term through January 2029.
How Arizona Senate Seats Are Filled
When a Senate seat becomes vacant, the state governor appoints an interim senator. Arizona law requires a special election to fill the remainder of the term, while the next regular election determines the seat's long-term occupant.
