New senators sworn in amid calls for more bipartisanship
WASHINGTON — Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama was sworn into office Wednesday, shrinking the Senate’s Republican majority to 51-49 and leading lawmakers of both parties to plead for more bipartisanship as Congress tackles pressing issues in advance of the 2018 midterm elections.
Vice President Mike Pence administered the Senate’s oath of office to Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, and to former Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Sen. Al Franken, who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Jones was escorted to the Senate chamber by former Vice President Joe Biden, who had headlined Jones’ campaign kickoff rally.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., escorted Smith to the Senate floor. She becomes the 22nd woman currently serving in the Senate, a record.
Mondale recalled that he “went through something like this in the good old days.” In 1964, Mondale was appointed to the Senate to fill the vacancy created when Hubert Humphrey was elected vice president.
Democrats voiced hopes that the narrowing of the GOP majority would lead to more collaboration.
“We are moving closer and closer to parity, closer and closer to one another, and I hope closer and closer in solving problems,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “I think that was a message of the Alabama election, among other things. The American people want to see us work together.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Jones will “have big shoes to fill.” McConnell also noted that lawmakers from both parties wanted more “comity, collegiality and bipartisanship.”
Jones, 63, represents one of the most conservative states in the nation. He will be under pressure to find some areas of agreement with Republicans and has cited the funding of infrastructure improvements as one possible avenue.
“There are a lot of people who didn’t vote for me, and I hope they will keep an open mind because I am going to try to be the best senator I can for the state to try to move the state forward as a whole and not just one particular group or philosophy,” he said.
Jones is taking the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and before that the man Jones considered his mentor, the late Sen. Howell Heflin. Jones worked for Heflin as a staffer after graduating from law school in 1979. Heflin was the last Democrat to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate.
Smith, 59, served as chief of staff to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton before becoming his No. 2 when the previous lieutenant governor declined to seek a second term.
Smith is known largely as a liberal Democrat who has maintained connections to the state’s politically powerful business community.
Smith called her swearingin ceremony “invigorating.” She is angling for a spot on the Senate’s Agriculture Committee ahead of an expected push for a new farm bill this year, and is eager to vote to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, for which funding lapsed last year.
Smith is running to maintain the Senate seat in a November special election.