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Governor Remains Secretive On Next U.S. Senate Seat Appointment

Jon Kyl has maintained that he has no plans to remain in the late John McCain's senate seat past January.

Gov. Doug Ducey won't say who he has next in mind to fill the seat, except that he is in touch with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"I want to keep the specifics confidential," Ducey said.

However, he hinted that Kyl may not be finished in one month.

"I will be talking this month about what his plans are into the future and then there will be more to follow," Ducey said.

He would not, however, comment on a recent lawsuit claiming Ducey's two-year appointment of Kyle is unconstitutional.

"Let the lawsuit play out," he said. "We followed the law in terms of dates and timings in the appointment of Sen. Kyl, and there is no vacancy in this seat."

He also had no issue with State Supreme Court justice Clint Bolick's recent suggestion to appoint Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to the senate seat.

"Because he goes to serve on the judiciary, I don't think he gives up his first amendment rights or his ability to make his opinion heard," said Ducey.

No matter who Ducey picks, there will be an election in 2020 for the seat.

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Holliday Moore was a reporter at KJZZ from 2017 to 2020.