Former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl announces dementia diagnosis, exits public life
Former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona announced he has been diagnosed with dementia and is stepping away from public life, saying in a statement that he and his family expect “moments of joy and increasing difficulties” and expressing gratitude despite the diagnosis. The announcement comes after a post‑Senate career at law firm Covington & Burling and work guiding Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation as a lobbyist, and Arizona State expert Sarah Porter called Kyl an “important participant” in negotiating the state’s water rules and tribal water‑rights settlements.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- On Dec. 31, 2025, former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl announced he has been diagnosed with dementia and said he is stepping away from public life.
- Kyl's full public statement referenced his family, said he expects 'moments of joy and increasing difficulties,' and expressed gratitude despite the diagnosis.
- The announcement was reported by CBS News on its Facebook page (Dec. 31, 2025).
- After leaving the Senate, Kyl worked as a lobbyist at Covington & Burling.
- In his post‑Senate lobbying role, Kyl helped guide Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
- Arizona State University expert Sarah Porter described Kyl as an 'important participant' in negotiations that created Arizona's water rules and noted his work on tribal water‑rights settlements.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Among U.S. adults aged 70 and older in 2019, the prevalence of dementia was 16.1% for non-Hispanic Black adults and 16.4% for Hispanic adults, compared to 8.5% for non-Hispanic White adults.
Fact Sheet: U.S. Dementia Trends — Population Reference Bureau
Black participants had 2.883 times higher odds of developing dementia compared to White participants, while Hispanic participants had 1.230 times higher odds, based on data from the Health and Retirement Study.
Decomposing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk and Protective Factors for Dementia — Taylor & Francis Online
Racial disparities in dementia in the US are due to social determinants of health, with genetic ancestry playing no role, according to a study analyzing neuroimaging, genetic, and cognitive data.
Racial disparities in dementia determined by social factors — Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
An estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2025, with about 1 in 9 people (11%) in this age group affected.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures — Alzheimer's Association
Arizona is expected to see a 33% increase in Alzheimer's disease cases between 2020 and 2025, the fastest growth rate in the nation.
Report shows AZ leads nation in COVID-related dementia deaths — Arizona PBS
đź“° Sources (2)
- Includes Kyl’s full public statement language about his family, anticipated 'moments of joy and increasing difficulties,' and his gratitude despite the diagnosis.
- Recaps his post‑Senate work at Covington & Burling and role in guiding Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation as a lobbyist.
- Provides expert context from Sarah Porter of Arizona State University describing Kyl as an 'important participant' in negotiations that created Arizona’s water rules and highlighting his work on tribal water‑rights settlements.