Former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has died at the age of 84. According to a statement released by his family, Kyl's death was caused by complications related to a neurological disease. He had previously withdrawn from public life in December 2025 following a diagnosis of dementia.
Kyl's career in federal government spanned nearly three decades, beginning during the Reagan administration and concluding during the first term of President Donald Trump. He served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 18 years in the U.S. Senate. In 2018, he briefly returned to the Senate for four months after being appointed by then-Governor Doug Ducey to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sen. John McCain.
During his tenure, Kyl rose to the position of Republican minority whip. He was a central figure in Western water policy, authoring the 2004 tribal water rights settlement for the Gila River Indian Community. As a lawyer prior to his time in Congress, he also participated in the development of Arizona's 1980 groundwater code. In 2018, he assisted in the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Federal workers, judicial officials, and legal professionals are affected by the precedents Kyl set during his time in Senate leadership and his work on judicial confirmations. As the "Sherpa" for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Kyl managed the political process that led to a lifetime appointment on the nation's highest court. Additionally, his past legislative efforts included supporting the construction of hundreds of miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The impact of Kyl's work also extends to future policy research through the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, which bears his name. While the specific date of his death was not reported, his family’s announcement follows his December 2025 withdrawal from public life. No information regarding funeral arrangements or public memorials was included in the report.