There is a very real scenario playing out in Arizona that would find Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) both in the U.S. Senate come January.
Sinema defeated McSally this month for the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, but as we reported here on JimHeath.TV weeks ago, McSally will likely be the preferred choice of Republicans when Sen. Jon Kyl steps down, perhaps as early as next month.
CNN is now reporting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is leveraging his political power to try to convince Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to choose McSally.
Kyl made it clear to Ducey when he was appointed to replace the late Sen. John McCain in September that he would only serve until the start of the next Congress.
McSally once worked for Kyl, and Ducey must pick a Republican when the vacancy happens.
While speaking about McSally last week, Kyl told CNN that “Martha McSally would be a very good member of the United States Senate, however she got there,” adding, “I regret that she didn’t make it in her election.”
“I can’t think of anybody more qualified than Martha McSally,” he said.
In the interview, Kyl made clear that an appointment would be Ducey’s decision, saying he didn’t “want to try to influence that.” He said his comments “have nothing to do with any potential candidate to replace me.”
If chosen, McSally would fill the position through the end of 2020, at which point the state would hold a special election to fill the remaining two years of McCain’s term.
The seat would then be on the ballot in 2022 to be filled for the following six years.
Democrats are already lining up for the potential to run for an open seat in 2020.
Having McSally as an incumbent may complicate plans, especially when it comes to fundraising.