# Kyl Shaped Kavanaugh Confirmation and Western Water Policy

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/kyl-shaped-kavanaugh-confirmation-and-western-water-policy
- Published: 2026-09-18T01:08:41.716992+00:00
- Topics: obituary, congress, arizona, supreme-court, kavanaugh-confirmation

## What the left says
- Kyl's tenure is remembered partly for his role in helping confirm Brett Kavanaugh, a decision that remains contentious given the sexual assault allegations and the ideological shift he brought to the Supreme Court
- Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs still offered warm bipartisan praise, calling him a dedicated statesman who cared deeply about the state despite policy disagreements
- His decades of work on Western water policy are recognized as substantive, technocratic achievements that outlasted the partisan battles of his career

## What the right says
- Kyl is remembered as a disciplined, hardworking 'workhorse' legislator who prioritized substantive policy work over media attention, reading legislation even while traveling in coach
- His decisive role in shepherding Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court is viewed as one of his most significant and lasting achievements, cementing a conservative majority on the Court
- Colleagues across the aisle and within his party, including Doug Ducey and John Thune, praised his integrity, mentorship, and devotion to public service
- His willingness to return to the Senate in 2018 to fill McCain's vacant seat, despite having already retired, reflects his sense of duty to Arizona

## Common ground
- Jon Kyl died at age 84 from complications related to a neurological disease that had caused dementia
- He announced his diagnosis and withdrawal from public life in December 2025
- He served nearly three decades in Congress across the House and Senate, representing Arizona
- He played a central role in guiding Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation and in shaping major Western water policy
- Political figures from both parties, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and Gov. Doug Ducey, publicly praised his dedication to public service

## Sources
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/former-us-sen-jon-kyl-arizona-workhorse-shaped-136532635) (Lean Left)
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/health/2026/09/17/longtime-arizona-republican-lawmaker-jon-kyl-dies-at-84-he-was-a-true-statesman/) (Right)
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-gop-whip-arizona-sen-jon-kyl-dead-84) (Right)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obit-jon-kyl-arizona_n_6aac12a0e4b0812a5f10e355) (Left)
- [Just The News](https://justthenews.com/government/congress/former-gop-whip-arizona-senator-john-kyl-died?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators) (Right)
- [PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/jon-kyl-long-serving-lawmaker-from-arizona-who-shaped-water-policy-dies-at-84) (Lean Left)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6095833-former-senator-jon-kyl-dies/) (Center)

---
Content by TwoTakes (https://twotakes.us). You may quote, summarize and cite it, including in AI answers, as long as you credit TwoTakes and link the story URL. Original reporting belongs to the linked outlets. Summaries are AI-assisted and reviewed for balance; check the original sources for authoritative reporting.