Doug McCain, eldest son of late Sen John McCain, dies 'suddenly' at 66
WASHINGTON, DC: The family of late Senator John McCain has been mourning the sudden death of his eldest son, Doug McCain. He was 66.
Doug "suddenly" died on Wednesday, May 20, according to an obituary released by his funeral home, which did not reveal the cause behind his death.
He is survived by his wife, Ashley Jardine McCain, their two children, daughter Caroline McCain Hendrickson and son Douglas Shepp McCain Jr, and his grandson Teddy.
Doug McCain was late Sen John McCain’s adopted son
Doug was John’s first wife Carol McCain’s eldest son, whom she had with her first husband Alasdair Swanson. The late senator adopted him and his brother, Andrew McCain, after he exchanged vows with Carol in 1965 and then went on to welcome their third child, Sidney McCain, 59.
However, their marriage didn't last long as Carol and John eventually filed for divorce, and the late senator went on to marry Cindy McCain. Together, they welcomed four children: Meghan McCain, 41, John "Jack" McCain, 40, James McCain, 38, and Bridget McCain, 35.
Born on October 4, 1959, in Pensacola, Doug spent much of his childhood in Jacksonville, where he developed a love for surfing and sports, playing both baseball and soccer.
John McCain's adopted son, Douglas Shepp McCain, died suddenly at 66 years old. Douglas was a Navy veteran.
— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) May 24, 2026
Doug was John McCain's adopted son from the senator's first marriage to Carol Shepp McCain.
Private services will be held for the family. A memorial gathering is… pic.twitter.com/bqcxMDhQ4u
After graduating from Jacksonville Episcopal High School in 1977, he went on to attend the University of Virginia, majoring in systems engineering while participating in Navy ROTC, where he also met his future wife, Ashley Jardine.
Following his graduation in 1982, Doug joined the Navy, where he spent six years piloting A-6 Intruder aircraft. He later went on to build a lengthy career at American Airlines, a profession his family said he deeply enjoyed, especially after earning the rank of captain.
“I went out and campaigned some, and I continued to raise money. They would send me out to do things," said Doug in 'John McCain: For Whom The Bell Tolls'. "I'd go to things around the state of Virginia, but you know, I still had two kids in Norfolk Academy…I had a lot of educational expenses. I couldn't quit work. I had to go fly planes and stay ahead of the bill collector,” he added.
Doug McCain, the eldest son of the late Republican presidential nominee and Arizona Sen. John McCain, has died at 66.https://t.co/O0lms51EqI pic.twitter.com/c7o1TZ2o7D
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) May 24, 2026
Meghan McCain pays tribute to her 'wonderful, joyful' brother
Meghan paid a touching tribute to Doug in an emotional Instagram post, which included a photo of her brother standing beside their father.
"I am deeply saddened to share the news of my brother Doug McCain's sudden passing," the former 'The View' host wrote.
"He was a truly wonderful, joyful man who supported me throughout my life. He brought humor, fun and great conversation to every room. I will cherish our memories together,” she added.
Meghan added that her family's prayers are with Doug's wife and children
A memorial gathering will be held at the Princess Anne Country Club on Saturday, May 30. Instead of flowers, organizers have asked attendees to share a contribution to Jacksonville Episcopal High School, the University of Virginia, or any charity of their choice in Doug's name, per his obituary.
