But Ducey, both conscious of McCain's status as one of the nation's most respected statesmen and war heroes...
Posted on 08/26/2018 7:17:11 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
For more than a year, Cindy McCain kept Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) updated on her husband's valiant battle against brain cancer.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) ended that final battle on Saturday, passing away just four days before his 82nd birthday, 32 years after winning his first term in the Senate.
Now it falls to Ducey to choose McCain's successor. The first-term governor has already begun considering a list of potential replacements, according to four Republicans either familiar with Ducey's thinking or close to those who have been involved in initial discussions.
But Ducey, both conscious of McCain's status as one of the nation's most respected statesmen and war heroes and nervous about his own reelection bid this November, has squelched speculation about who might inherit McCain's seat.
A spokesman in Ducey's office declined to comment. None of the Republicans familiar with Ducey's thinking agreed to speak on the record, in order to detail private and sensitive conversations.
Most speculation focused on three potential candidates: Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire, the director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and the adjutant general of the state's Army and Air National Guards; Karrin Taylor Robson, a wealthy businesswoman whom Ducey appointed to the state Board of Regents in 2017; and Kirk Adams, a former state House Speaker who is now Ducey's chief of staff.
Several sources also pointed to former Sen. Jon Kyl (R), McCain's longtime seatmate who is now shepherding Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, and former Rep. John Shadegg (R), who left Congress in 2011.
The New York Times on Sunday added state Treasurer Eileen Klein (R) and Barbara Barrett, a former ambassador to Finland under President George W. Bush.
Ducey is said to be acutely aware of what Arizona's conservative activists -- those who most closely follow and approve of President Trump -- are thinking. Ducey needs those voters for his own reelection bid, and he is likely to consider his own political future, one that would benefit from a close relationship with Trump. Ducey is already close with Vice President Pence.
Those relationships mean that other potential Senate candidates once thought to be under consideration have fallen victim to political circumstance.
Cindy McCain, who may have served as a caretaker of her husband's seat, is no longer seen as a potential appointee. Grant Woods, John McCain's first congressional chief of staff and a candidate long seen as McCain's choice to take his seat, endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, likely making him a nonstarter with the White House.
Several potential candidates who began jockeying for an appointment late last year were so public about their ostensibly private bids that they effectively played themselves out of contention. In a radio interview last year, Ducey said those who were "openly lobbying for this position, they've basically disqualified themselves by showing their true character."
Republicans close to Ducey interpreted his remarks as chin music meant for Rep. Paul Gosar (R), former Rep. Matt Salmon (R) and former state Sen. Kelli Ward (R).
Gosar, a hyper-conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus, is almost certainly a nonstarter, even before his overt campaigning for the seat angered Ducey. Salmon, now the chief lobbyist for Arizona State University, was seen as indelicate in sending out feelers about the possibility of winning the appointment. And Ward is likely to lose Tuesday's Republican primary to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R) to a more establishment rival, making her appointment unlikely.
Whomever Ducey chooses to replace McCain will serve in the Senate until 2020, when Arizona voters will choose someone to fill the two remaining years of the term McCain won in 2016.
Ducey said Saturday he would wait until McCain is buried before he names a successor. McCain will lie in state in both the Arizona and the U.S. Capitol, before he is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy's cemetery in Annapolis, Md.
“...He may very will already be burning...”
Ding! ding! We have a winner.
They have actual elections in Arizona? With McCain I thought they were coronations.
AZ Repubs did in droves in 2016 to keep the majority and avoid a D senator in AZ. Rs outnumber Ds in AZ 55/45, but when it comes to the primary kicking him, or any long term incumbent R out, is practically impossible absent a huge scandal.
This is going on right now in the race for AZs other seat, even without an incumbent. The Establishment has the local media sewn up so there is little criticism or push back on the lies, but vicious lies and attacks on their opponents. They also pour in 10 times what Kelli Ward is spending, 7 million bucks v. $700,000, flooding ttv and radio with lies. They then enlist a ticket splitter (Joe Arpaio) or two. Add in a bunch of endorsements from Establishment hacks already in power for years also and voila, incumbent RINO wins primary and Conservatoves get screwed. Over and over.
This is the Establishment playbook. It’s still effective, but less so since the Internet and social media.
We are very fortunate the vote on Judge Kavanaugh is pending and soon.
Ducey will be forced to name a replacement rather than dawdling and it absolutely cannot be someone who even thinks twice about supporting Kavanaugh. Therefore it will be someone reasonably conservative.
My AZ sources tell me the following:
*Both McCains are out.
*DeWitt is out
*Jon Kyl told me months ago he isn’t interested.
*the appointment will be someone who will “help Ducey” (but I don’t know if that means this election or in the future. I’m guessing both.
*”Could be someone unexpected.”
Further, simple logic says it will not be either McSally or Ward: this would have the effect of “punishing” the winner of the primary (likely McSally) if he named the loser, in which case the winner might lose the general. If he named the winner of the primary, I’m not sure what protocol is on what follows. I don’t know that automatically the nomination to run for Flake’s seat would fall to the loser (likely Ward).
Either way, this would stir up a real hornet’s nest. My strong suspicion is that he stays out of the primary and names someone else.
What about current congressmen? Doubt it. I think either Schweikert or Grajalva would have seniority, Biggs is the most conservative but a freshman, and I’m told Gosar really doesn’t want it. Regardless, naming ANY house member would a) cause a war with all the other factions, b) throw open yet one more House seat that we can’t afford to lose.
There are suggestions about former Gov. Jan Brewer (a strong possibility if she wants it) or former Cong. Matt Salmon (a decent choice). But Brewer is a Trumper who Ducey banned from the state convention delegation, and Salmon has a full time gig. Probably either would be acceptable to both wings of the AZ GOP and would be a “soft Trump” support in the Senate-—but certainly not a Flakey or McTurd.
Finally, one source tells me it’s just his “guess” that Ducey could go completely unexpected with his chief of staff Kirk Adams. But I doubt he’ll go with anyone who hasn’t won some election somewhere.
Oh, and I humbly volunteer for the seat.
As long as the replacement is a popular/electable true conservative who supports Trump then I see no issues.
Interesting take on the complicated political calculus going on.
And LOL on that last!
Appoint Sheriff Joe for the remainder of term.
Gives him the needed resume` entry.
If the people want him back, he will get nominated.
Appoint him today providing he doesn’t continue to ‘clog’ up the R side of the Congressional ‘battle’
From your fingers to God's ears!
If true, Cindy's screaming at the help about now.
Ducey will be forced to name a replacement rather than dawdling and it absolutely cannot be someone who even thinks twice about supporting Kavanaugh. Therefore it will be someone reasonably conservative.
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Let’s hope so.
Thanks, LS
Larry Schweikart for Senate!
Thanks for your post and insight.
I guess we’ll all have to wait and see.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 for you 😁
“her husband’s valiant battle”
Sorry, if i am nit picking but i have a problem with poeple acting like getting treatment for something is somehow heroic.
You take the treatment or die.
What would have made him a principle and humble leader would have been stepping down the minute this 2000 year old man was diagnose with a terminal illness.
Our government doesn’t need McCain style mavericks ...it needs real honest representation.
You know humble servants who serve the people.
Maybe 6 or 8 years tops and then handover the baton to the next generation.
I do think Ms. Kelli Ward hurt herself by what she said this past weekend about the issue of the timing of the end of Sen. McCain’s cancer treatment. I suspect he was in hospice care by the time announcement went out. Whatever your viewpoint is on McCain,she shot herself in the feet.
I second your nomination, Larry!
All In For LS!
The Governor has had a long time to think about this. It is NOT an emergency situation, but I hope he picks someone who will truly represent the citizens of Arizona. I don’t think McCain EVER did that.
Sheriff Joe
I nominate Praying Medic ;-)
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