Greg Stanton, former United States Senator from Arizona, who represented the state in both houses of Congress for nearly three decades, passed away at the age of 84.
Cause of Death and Political Life
Stanton passed away on Wednesday night due to a neurological disorder. He retired from public life in December 2025, announcing that he had been diagnosed with dementia. Stanton served in Congress for over two decades and witnessed significant changes in the Republican Party, spanning from Ronald Reagan's presidency to Donald Trump's first term.
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Impacts and Achievements
Doug Ducey, former Republican governor of Arizona who knew Stanton as a mentor, described him as a true statesman and a "workhorse" among the "show horses" of Washington. He recalls that Stanton would sit in economy class on flights, studying bills and Senate issues.
Stanton was elected minority leader during his last full term in the Senate and worked as a lobbyist after retiring from politics in 2013. He temporarily returned to Congress in 2018 to fill the vacancy left by the late Senator John McCain.
In 2004, Stanton passed a law that provided one of the largest tribal water rights agreements, granting the Gila River Indian Community enough water to fill nearly 313,500 swimming pools annually. Mitch McConnell, Republican Senator from Kentucky, called Stanton's effectiveness "legendary" in a 2012 speech, stating that he had worked largely behind the scenes for 15 years to advance this agreement.
The Stanton Water Policy Center at Arizona State University is named in his honor. Sarah Porter, the center's director, stated that Stanton was generous with his time and had a practical approach to water policy as an effective member of the state legislature.
Ducey noted that Stanton was a "giant" in the Senate, with his greatest impacts being in maintaining the unity of the Republican caucus against Obamacare and strong support for Israel. As a lobbyist, he played a role in guiding the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
In a statement announcing his dementia diagnosis, Stanton referenced Reagan's words, saying that he too, with confidence in the future of Arizona and the country, considered himself a "very lucky man" despite his diagnosis.
Source: abcnews.com
