Jon Kyl says he has dementia, will step back from public life

Former senator jon kyl announced Dec. 30, 2025 that he has been diagnosed with dementia and will withdraw from public life, according to his statement and multiple news reports.

Kyl, 83, said in a written statement that he had been diagnosed with “a neurological disease manifesting as dementia” and that “the time has come for me to withdraw from public life,” an announcement reported by the Associated Press and other outlets.

A quiet, empty study with a closed leather-bound folder on a wooden desk, reading glasses rested beside it, soft late-afternoon light through a curtained window — conveys privacy and a step back from public life

The statement and reporting noted Kyl’s decision follows a long public career. The New York Times and local Arizona outlets reported he served Arizona in both the U.S. House and Senate across nearly three decades before retiring from the Senate in 2013.

Local and national outlets relayed the same passage from Kyl’s statement: “My family and I now head down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties,” words cited by the AP and NBC News when they published the announcement Dec. 30.

An empty reading chair beside a small table with a single lamp on, a folded newspaper on the table and a pair of glasses — an intimate domestic scene suggesting retirement and withdrawal from public duties

Kyl’s announcement has been widely reported by major outlets including The New York Times, CBS News and the Associated Press. Those reports place the date of the statement on Dec. 30, 2025 and attribute the quoted language directly to Kyl.

Health disclosures by former lawmakers can prompt public discussion about succession, eldercare and the role of retired officials in civic life. Recent coverage of other senators’ medical absences and returns provides context for how such situations are covered and managed in Washington; for example, news about Mitch McConnell returns and earlier reports on his rehab were followed closely by national outlets.

This article will be updated as Kyl’s family or representatives release further details or as major outlets publish additional reporting or statements.

Sources

Associated Press — reported Kyl’s statement, quoted his line about heading “down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties,” and dated the announcement Dec. 30, 2025.
The New York Times — reported the diagnosis, noted Kyl’s age and summarized his service representing Arizona in both the House and Senate.
NBC News — published the statement text and noted Kyl’s decision to withdraw from public life.
CBS News — carried reporting that confirmed the diagnosis and withdrawal from public activities.