Arizona has lost one of its most consequential public servants. Former Senator Jon Kyl has passed away at the age of 84.
Senator Kyl, who represented our state in Congress for more than 26 years, serving first in the U.S. House and later rising to become the second-ranking Republican in the Senate. He earned a reputation as a serious lawmaker who viewed public service as a responsibility and the defense of liberty as its central purpose. Senator Kyl brought that approach to some of our nation’s—and Arizona’s—most difficult challenges.
Senator Kyl’s influence was also instrumental in establishing the Goldwater Institute. He helped found the organization in 1988 and remained a trusted friend and adviser as it grew into a national defender of individual liberty and limited government.
“The Goldwater Institute would not be the organization it is today without Jon Kyl and the leadership he demonstrated during his more than 26 years of public service,” Goldwater Institute President and CEO Victor Riches said.
Kyl studied the issues, defended his convictions and treated public office as a duty rather than a platform for personal attention. He leaves Arizona—and the Goldwater Institute—with an enduring example of principled leadership.
