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Martha McSally Appointed to Arizona Senate Seat Once Held by John McCain

• https://www.nytimes.com

WASHINGTON — Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona on Tuesday appointed Representative Martha McSally to the Senate seat previously held by John McCain, bowing to the preferences of Washington Republicans despite his own misgivings about Ms. McSally's lackluster Senate campaign this year.

Mr. Ducey, who easily won re-election last month as Ms. McSally was defeated in her bid for Arizona's other Senate seat, hailed her combat service as an Air Force pilot and two terms in the House.

"With her experience and long record of service, Martha is uniquely qualified to step up and fight for Arizona's interests in the U.S. Senate," Mr. Ducey said in a statement.

Ms. McSally will enter the Senate at the start of the year, replacing Senator Jon Kyl, the senator-turned-lobbyist who returned to the chamber as a caretaker in the months immediately following Mr. McCain's death in August. Mr. Kyl announced last week he would resign at the end of the year.