Douglas McCain, the eldest son of the late Sen. John McCain, has died unexpectedly at the age of 66, according to family members and an obituary.
His sister, Meghan McCain, announced his passing Saturday in a social media post, saying she was deeply saddened by the loss of her brother.
Meghan described Douglas as a joyful and wonderful person who had supported her throughout her life. She said he brought humor, fun and meaningful conversation wherever he went.
“I will cherish our memories together,” she wrote.
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According to his obituary, Douglas McCain died suddenly on May 20.
Douglas followed in the military tradition of the McCain family. He served for six years as a Navy pilot, flying A-6 Intruder aircraft. After his military service, he went on to work as a commercial pilot for American Airlines.
He was adopted by John McCain after McCain married Douglas’ mother, Carol Shepp, in 1965. John McCain and Carol later divorced in 1980, and McCain went on to marry Cindy McCain.
The McCain Institute also paid tribute to Douglas, saying he would be remembered as a patriot and a friend to many people connected to Sen. McCain’s institute, campaigns and Senate staff.
John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime Republican senator from Arizona, died in 2018 after battling brain cancer. He was 81.
Douglas McCain’s death marks another loss for the McCain family, which has remained prominent in American political and military life for decades.
He is survived by his wife, Ashley; his children, Caroline and Douglas; his mother, Carol Shepp; and several siblings and stepsiblings in the McCain family.
Family members and friends remembered him as a man who carried forward the McCain family’s legacy of service, while also building his own life as a Navy pilot, airline pilot, husband, father and brother.
Doug McCain, the oldest son of Sen. John McCain, dead at 66 https://t.co/hKAPNdoWOq pic.twitter.com/B0xjr7bIlA
— New York Post (@nypost) May 24, 2026
