Former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl has been chosen to fill the late John McCain’s Senate seat, according to Gov. Doug Ducey.

Ducey announced his decision to appoint Kyl on Tuesday at the Arizona Capitol.

“There is no one in Arizona more prepared to represent our state in the U.S. Senate than Jon Kyl,” Ducey said in a statement.

“He understands how the Senate functions and will make an immediate and positive impact benefiting all Arizonans. I am deeply grateful to Senator Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and college of so many years.”

“Every single day that Jon Kyl represents Arizona in the United States Senate is a day when our state is being well-served,” he added.

McCain’s wife Cindy McCain congratulated Kyl, saying his appointment would be “a great tribute” to her husband.

“Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back to into public service to help the state of Arizona,” McCain tweeted Tuesday.

Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona.

— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 4, 2018

Kyl, 76, and at one time the second-ranking Republican, represented Arizona in the Senate alongside McCain for nearly two decades before retiring in 2013.

He’ll fill the vacancy until at least the end of the year, and said he won’t seek reelection in 2020.

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