He returned to Congress to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator John McCain in 2018.
Former Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, who served a role in Congress for nearly three decades, has announced that he will be withdrawing from public life after being diagnosed with dementia.
Kyl, 83, a republican congressman who served in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, announced the news in a statement to Associated Press, NBC News and The New York Times on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
"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.
"However, the time has come for me to withdraw from public life. I have been diagnosed with a neurological disease manifesting as dementia," he added.
"My family and I now head down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties," Kyl continued in his statement. "I am grateful beyond expression for their love and support, in these coming days as in all the days of my life. Despite this diagnosis, I remain a very fortunate man."
Kyl had a long history in Congress. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995 and then served in the Senate from 1995 until 2013. After leaving Congress, he became the Senate minority whip, becoming the No. 2 Republican in the state chamber.
He eventually returned to Congress in 2018 after being appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator John McCain at the age of 81 by former Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. He stayed in the seat until 2019.
During his time in the Senate, he notably left an impact on water policy -- having gained approval of tribal water rights settlements -- and national defense and intelligence, per AP and Fox News.
Following his stint in Congress in 2013, he joined Covington and Burling, a lobbying firm that helps influence government decisions, laws, and regulations on behalf of clients. During his time working with the company, he helped guide the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh through the Senate.
He returned to work at the firm in 2019 following his second return to Congress, where he had been working as a Senior of Counsel in the government affairs and lobbying group for the law firm prior to his recent announcement.