“I was blessed to represent the people of Arizona in Congress and to have numerous other opportunities to contribute to the political and civic life of our nation and state.” — Senator Jon Kyl, December 30, 2025 

Jon Kyl did not simply occupy a Senate seat. He shaped our nation’s direction from it. As Senate Minority Whip — the highest leadership post ever held by an Arizona Republican senator — he was known for his meticulous preparation, his command of policy, and his ability to build consensus without compromising principle. Senator Mitch McConnell called him “a great persuader.” His colleagues on both sides of the aisle respected him. Senator John McCain, his partner in representing Arizona for a quarter of a century, said simply: “I wish I were as good a public servant as Jon Kyl.”

Throughout his career, Senator Kyl earned a 96.58% lifetime score from the American Conservative Union, reflecting his unwavering commitment to the foundational values that matter most to Arizona families: the sanctity of human life, the strength of marriage and family, religious freedom, and limited government under the rule of law.

He voted to confirm Justices John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court — serving as the guide, or “chief sherpa,” for Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. He championed pro-life protections at the federal level and used his farewell address on the Senate floor in December 2012 to deliver one of the most powerful defenses of marriage heard in that chamber: 

Those are not just the words of a politician. They are the words of a statesman who understood that strong families build strong communities — and that marriage is the cornerstone of both. 

Center for Arizona Policy has been privileged to work alongside Senator Kyl on many of the issues closest to our mission. As then CAP President Cathi Herrod said upon his return to the Senate in 2018: “As one who has worked closely with Senator Kyl on many issues, I welcome and applaud his willingness to step in and meet this need at this time. Throughout his congressional career, Senator Kyl served with integrity and honor. No one knows the Senate better than Senator Kyl.” 

In 2018, Center for Arizona Policy created the inaugural Jon Kyl Statesman Award in his honor — a recognition reserved for leaders who embody the qualities Senator Kyl exemplified throughout his career: wisdom, integrity, a commitment to conservative principles, and a thorough knowledge of the art of government. The first recipient was Arizona Senate President Steve Yarbrough, a powerful voice for preborn babies and their mothers who served 16 years in the Arizona Legislature. By naming this award for Senator Kyl, CAP recognized that his example is the standard by which true statesmanship should be measured — not by the headlines a leader generates, but by the principles a leader stands for without compromise. 

Throughout Senator Kyl’s time in the Senate, his pro-life record and leadership on judicial confirmations demonstrate his commitment to protecting the sanctity of human life. His role as the lead advocate for Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018 was a culmination of decades of work ensuring that the federal judiciary respects the Constitution as written. Every pro-life protection upheld by the Court, every ruling that respects the rights of the unborn, builds on a foundation that leaders like Senator Kyl laid through years of principled, painstaking work in the Senate — work that CAP supported and championed from Arizona. 

Senator Kyl’s legacy extends far beyond votes and legislation. Arizona State University named its Kyl Center for Water Policy in his honor, recognizing his expertise in water law, the lifeblood of our state. The University of Arizona — his alma mater — established the Kyl Institute for National Security, carrying forward his decades of leadership on defense and deterrence. 

But for those of us at Center for Arizona Policy, his greatest legacy is personal and moral. Jon Kyl showed that a public servant can be unflinchingly conservative and universally respected. That a leader can be tough-minded and tender-hearted. That integrity, preparation, and quiet faith are not weaknesses in the political arena — they are the qualities that make a statesman. 

That is the Jon Kyl we know. That is the legacy we honor.