Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | The Republic
Ken Bennett, the Arizona Republican challenging the state’s sitting governor in the 2018 primary election, vowed he would not appoint U.S. Sen. John McCain’s wife to the senator’s seat if it is vacated.
Bennett, a former Arizona secretary of state, is taking on Gov. Doug Ducey, whom he lost to in 2014.
Bennett drew national headlines in 2012 when, as the state’s top elections chief, he sought verification of then-President Barack Obama’s birth certificate before allowing him to appear on Arizona’s November ballot.
On Thursday, Bennett waded into the emotionally charged discussion about who might succeed McCain, a six-term Republican senator who has a typically deadly form of brain cancer. McCain has been in Arizona since December.
“I promise I will not appoint Cindy McCain to US Senate as Gov of AZ,” wrote Bennett.
If McCain’s seat is vacated, the sitting governor would appoint a Republican to the seat.
