Senate names late Sen. John McCain replacement for committee chairman

PHOENIX — For more than three decades, the late U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) served on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, which he spent three years leading as chairman.

But on Wednesday, another senator was chosen to take the reins on leading the committee: Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).

Senator Inhofe has been chosen chairman of the Armed Services Committee by his colleagues on the panel, Majority Leader McConnell said in floor remarks.

— Senate Press Gallery (@SenatePress) September 5, 2018

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the announcement on the Senate floor Wednesday.

“Jim Inhofe filled in for Sen. McCain during a difficult year,” he said, according to Defense News.

“He rose to the occasion and helped lead the committee in passing crucial legislation that honored the example of his predecessor and the volunteers who defend our nation,” McConnell added.

“He possesses rich experience on the committee, including decades of work on behalf of American service members as well as his own military service.”

Inhofe had served as acting chairman since December, when McCain first went home to receive treatment for brain cancer.

McCain died on Aug. 25 at the age of 81 after a year-long battle with the disease. He was laid to rest last weekend at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Inhofe and McCain worked hand-in-hand for years on the committee and the Oklahoma senator paid tribute to McCain last week.

“He was passionate for the causes that he believed in, a strong advocate for human rights and democratic values, standing up for oppressed people around the world.” – @JimInhofe on @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/AwcybXUABv

— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) August 30, 2018

“He was passionate for the causes that he believed in, a strong advocate for human rights and democratic values, standing up for oppressed people around the world,” Inhofe said.

“That was the soft side that people don’t know about.”

Inhofe was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and served eight years on the House Armed Services Committee, before serving 23 more on its Senate counterpart. He served as its ranking member from 2013 to 2015.

McCain joined the Senate Armed Services Committee in 1986, when he was first elected, served as the committee’s ranking member from 2006 to 2012 and became chairman in 2015.

The announcement came on the same day that Jon Kyl was sworn into the Senate by Vice President Mike Pence to replace McCain.

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