Arizona governor won't name Sen. John McCain's successor until after funeral. He has only one firm criterion.

A memorial to Sen. John McCain in Arizona

(Image credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) says he won't fill the Senate seat left empty by Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) death until after McCain is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland, following his funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday morning. "Now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life well lived," Ducey spokesman Daniel Ruiz said Sunday. Ducey has to pick a Republican to serve until a special election in 2020, but other than that he has free rein to pick McCain's successor.

The names being floated include McCain's 64-year-old widow, Cindy McCain; former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.); Ducey's chief of staff, Kirk Adams; McCain's former chief of staff Grant Woods; former Reps. John Shadegg and Matt Salmon; and recently appointed Arizona state Treasurer Eileen Klein. Arizona's GOP is pretty sharply divided, and Washington Republicans are anxious that Ducey pick a reliable vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "Ducey's office has heard from Vice President Mike Pence's aides about the choice," a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Sunday.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.