Former Excessive-Rating Republican Senator Pronounces Heartbreaking Analysis
Former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl announced on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with dementia.
Kyl, 83, represented Arizona in the Senate from 1995 to 2013 and again in 2018.
He was Senate Minority Whip from 2007 to 2013.
“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,” Kyl said in a statement, according to Fox News
“However, the time has come for me to withdraw from public life. I have been diagnosed with a neurological disease manifesting as dementia,” the statement continued.
A longtime public servant who represented Arizona from the 1990s to the 2010s announced he is retiring from public life. https://t.co/VxRGAEbcbK
— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) December 30, 2025
Fox News has more:
After leaving the Senate, Kyl joined the lobbying firm Covington and Burling, before being appointed in 2018 by then-Gov. Doug Ducey to fill the vacancy caused by the death of former Sen. John McCain.
Kyl held the seat for several months in the Senate before rejoining the firm in 2019, where he helped guide the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The longtime Arizona lawmaker described himself as “a very fortunate man” despite the diagnosis.
“My family and I now head down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties,” he stated. “I am grateful beyond expression for their love and support, in these coming days as in all the days of my life.”
“A mentor, a friend and a confidant. Not sure I would have been Governor without his counsel and encouragement. Senator Jon Kyl is a giant set forth in the tradition of Arizona’s own Barry Goldwater. All my deepest love and prayers to him and the entire Kyl family,” former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said.
A mentor, a friend and a confidant.
Not sure I would have been Governor without his counsel and encouragement.
Senator Jon Kyl is a giant set forth in the tradition of Arizona’s own Barry Goldwater. All my deepest love and prayers to him and the entire Kyl family. https://t.co/d4Vbpw62a2
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) December 31, 2025
“Jon Kyl has given decades of his life in service to Arizonans, and I’ll always be grateful for his commitment to our state and country. Dementia is a tough disease, and Gabby and I are thinking of him and the whole Kyl family, as they take this on together,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) commented.
Jon Kyl has given decades of his life in service to Arizonans, and I’ll always be grateful for his commitment to our state and country.
Dementia is a tough disease, and Gabby and I are thinking of him and the whole Kyl family, as they take this on together. https://t.co/Zzx4fAENaE
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) December 31, 2025
The Hill shared:
The son of former Rep. John Henry Kyl (R-Iowa) and Arlene Kyl, the former lawmaker was born in Oakland, Neb. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1964 and received his law degree from the school two years later.
Kyl married his wife, Caryll, in 1964. They have two children and four grandchildren.
As of 2021, roughly 57 million people worldwide had dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases each year, according to the World Health Organization. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
A study published in Nature Medicine earlier this year found that dementia cases in the U.S. are expected to double to roughly 1 million new cases per year by 2060.
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