The U.S. Senate will have two new members today after Doug Jones and Tina Smith are sworn in. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in the special election to fill U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ former seat in Alabama. Smith is Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor and she replaces Al Franken, who resigned yesterday amid several sexual misconduct accusations.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two new Democrats will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, narrowing the Republican majority and complicating efforts by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to advance the White House's legislative agenda before the midterm elections in November.
Doug Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, is one of two new members who will take the oath of office on the Senate floor at noon. The other is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Al Franken following the Democrat's resignation over accusations of sexual misconduct. Smith also plans to compete in the special election taking place in November to complete the final two years of Franken's term.