A day after his family announced Sen. John McCain would discontinue treatment for brain cancer, the longtime Arizona senator and former Republican presidential nominee died Saturday. Moments after news of his death, social media flooded with sympathies and remembrances of the 81-year-old.
Here is how prominent Utahns reacted to McCain’s death:
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, tweeted a statement saying, “No one is more worthy of the words “hero” than John McCain.”
Fox News commentator and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said, “Few people ever make the kind of impact on a country as Sen John McCain has made on this one.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, tweeted his sympathies for McCain’s family, calling his former colleague an “American patriot.”
Utah Democratic Senate candidate Jenny Wilson tweeted that “Americans will forever look to Senator John McCain’s legacy as a symbol of true public service.”
Senate candidate Mitt Romney, a fellow former Republican presidential nominee, tweeted about the loss of his “great friend,” saying McCain “defined a life of honor" and will be missed.
Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, said McCain’s “bravery and sacrifice made the world a better place."
Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, also a military veteran, tweeted condolences to McCain’s family and called him a “true American and incredible Senator.”
The Democratic U.S. House candidate for Utah’s 2nd District, Shireen Ghorbani, tweeted that she was “very sorry to lose his voice of reason at this time when we really need it.”
Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, said in a statement that she was grateful for McCain’s "life, service and sacrifice,” and she offered his family her condolences.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes released a statement Saturday night, calling McCain a “war hero and a patriot to the end."
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert tweeted his condolences to McCain’s family, saying he was grateful for McCain’s “undaunting leadership and service.”
