Former McCain chief of staff weighs possible Senate bid as a Democrat

Grant Woods, the former Arizona attorney general and former chief of staff to late Sen. John McCain, says the death of his longtime friend has him eyeing a new role in politics — senator. Woods told Capitol Media Services that the passing of McCain forced him to reflect on the absence the “maverick” leaves behind as one of the more outspoken members of Congress in an era of deep political discord. 

“The country, I think, is really in a chaotic, difficult place,” Woods told the outlet. “So I have to do some real soul searching and just make a decision here.” Woods later told the Washington Post that over the week-long events honoring McCain it was difficult to think of “staying on the sidelines as we face a world without John McCain.”

Woods noted, however, that running as a Republican wasn’t a “realistic possibility” despite winning two Republican primaries for the state’s attorney general.  “Things have changed,” he said. “I haven’t changed but the party has changed…if it wants to be the party of Trump, that’s not me.” 

The politico turned lawyer told Capitol Media Services that he would make a final decision after the first of the year.

Woods’ remarks at McCain’s funeral drew immediate support from both sides of the aisle for his honest and humorous reflection on the longtime Arizona senator. Invoking the spirit of McCain, Woods urged those assembled at the late senator’s funeral to strive for the level of bipartisanship that McCain was known for.  

“I hope that what he stood for will maybe get renewed look in our country, that’s what he would want. He believed so much that this in the end when it’s all said and done that this Republican and Democrat thing is not that important is it. We’re all Americans and you got to get to the point where we can work together as Americans,” said Woods. 

For now, McCain’s seat is currently filled by another longtime McCain friend. Former Senator Jon Kyl. Kyl was sworn in at the Capitol by Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday after Arizona Governor Doug Ducey tapped him to take over McCain’s vacant seat until the 2020 election. Another election will be held to fill the remaining two years of McCain’s six-year term after that. 

Ducey said he hasn’t received an assurance from Kyl that he will serve through 2020, but Kyl has agreed to serve at least through the current term in Congress. He said he doesn’t intend to run for the seat in the future, or for any other seat.