Former US Sen. Jon Kyl to fill John McCain's vacant Senate seat

(FOX NEWS) -- Former Republican senator Jon Kyl will return to Capitol Hill to succeed the late Sen. John McCain, his widow Cindy said Tuesday.

"John Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s," Cindy McCain said on Twitter. "It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona."

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Kyl was the GOP Whip for a number of years, and also served as the escort -- or "sherpa," as the Senate sometimes calls it -- when taking U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh around to meet with senators.

He was also absent at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is scheduled to unveil the 76-year-old as McCain’s successor at a news conference at the state capitol, according to the Arizona Republic. The appointee will fill the seat until the next general election in 2020. In that cycle, voters will get to decide who fills the remainder of McCain's seat through 2022.

The political stakes are high since Kyl could participate in the vote on whether to confirm Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, and will be rejoining the Senate at a time when Democrats are eager to take control of the chamber in this year's midterms.

A representative for Ducey told the Republic that Kyl has agreed to serve at least through the end of the year, and if he opted to step down at the end of the session, the Republican governor would have to appoint another replacement.

Kyl retired in 2013 after becoming the second-highest Republican senator, and served alongside McCain during his 18 years in the Senate.

McCain was buried on Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in a private ceremony, as per the wishes the Arizona Republican and 2008 presidential nominee who died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 81.