McCain’s former chief of staff considering Senate bid as Democrat

John McCain’s former chief of staff, Grant Woods, is considering running as a Democrat for the Senate, he told The Washington Post on Wednesday. 

McCain’s recent death prompted Woods to consider running, he told the Post. McCain died late last month after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. Woods, a former Arizona attorney general, was among those who delivered a eulogy at McCain’s funeral last week.

{mosads} “It’s challenging for me be so involved in everything that we did to honor him over the last week and then think of staying on the sidelines as we face a world without John McCain,” Woods said.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Democrats have started talking to Woods about running to fill McCain’s seat, which will be be up for grabs in a special election in 2020 and again in 2022 for a full six-year term.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday picked fellow Republican and former Sen. Jon Kyl to succeed McCain in the Senate. 

Kyl, who left the Senate in 2013, said he will serve at least until the end of this Congress in January, but has not committed to serving in 2019 and 2020. He told reporters Tuesday that he has no interest in running for the seat come 2020.

Woods was McCain’s chief of staff when McCain served in the House in the 1980s.

Woods told the Post that he has spoken to several Democratic senators about potentially running for the seat, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.). He also said he’s spoken to North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D) and New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall (D).

Woods, who supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, told the Post he won’t consider running as a Republican as long as Trump is in charge.

“I’m not going to hold my breath on Trump because I’m not going to pass out,” Woods said.

Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) is facing off against fellow congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in the November race for Arizona’s second Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake (R).