Two new Democrats will be sworn in to the 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 November midterm elections.

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.

They will narrow the Republican majority to 51-49.

Jones, 63, who will represent one of the most conservative states in the nation, is stressing his desire to work with both parties. 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.

"I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all," Jones said after defeating Republican Roy Moore in a special election rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore. Jones will take the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Before the Senate seat belonged to Sessions, it belonged to 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.

Jones said for that reason, Wednesday will feel something like a homecoming, bringing his career full circle. During the swearing-in, Jones will be wearing a pair of Heflin's cufflinks. Jones plans to place one of Heflin's cigar boxes in his office.

"To be able to have done the things I've done and end up back here is just a remarkable thing," Jones said. "I am looking forward to getting my feet wet and getting to know my colleagues and jumping into the action."

Jones said he is hopeful that he comes to the Senate with a "little bit of a voice" because of the attention on the Alabama race.

"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 made it clear during the campaign that he was opposed to the GOP's efforts to repeal President Barack Obama's signature health care overhaul, the Affordable Care Act. He said the efforts would drive up costs and lead to the closure of more rural health care facilities in the state. "That is a nonstarter," Jones said.

Last month, McConnell signaled that he would likely give up on Obamacare repeal, for now, as the GOP majority was set to narrow.

"Well, we obviously were unable to completely repeal and replace with a 52-48 Senate," he said. "We'll have to take a look at what that looks like with a 51-49 Senate. But I think we'll probably move on to other issues."

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 large and politically powerful business community.

Once the senators take the oath of office, they reprise the event at a ceremony with family and friends in the Old Senate Chamber, once the home to the U.S. Senate and later to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1860 to 1935.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale is expected to join Smith at the ceremony.

Jones said former Vice President Joe Biden, who headlined Jones' campaign kickoff rally, and former Attorney General Eric Holder are expected to be among his guests Wednesday.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats Doug Jones of Alabama and Tina Smith of Minnesota sworn in as senators, GOP majority narrows.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>WASHINGTON - Congress convened Wednesday to welcome a pair of new Democratic senators – Alabama’s Doug Jones and Minnesota’s Tina Smith. They were sworn in just after noon.

Jones, a former federal prosecutor, became the first Democratic senator to represent Alabama in 25 years. He beat former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore by more than 20,000 votes in a result certified by officials last week.

Jones’s victory came after multiple women accused Moore, who was considered a favorite to replace Sessions, of sexual misconduct. Several women told reporters that they were teenagers when Moore made inappropriate sexual advances toward them.

Jones was sworn in to replace Luther Strange, who took office in February 2017 after President Donald Trump chose then-Sen. Jeff Sessions to serve as attorney general.

 In this Dec. 4, 2017, file photo, then-Democratic senatorial candidate Doug Jones speaks at a news conference in Dolomite, Ala. 

 Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton named Smith as Al Franken’s replacement last month after the congressman announced his intent to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. Smith served as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor before Wednesday, a position she had held since 2015.

Franken said last month that Smith would “be an effective senator who knows how to work across party lines to get things done for Minnesota.”

 In this Jan. 10, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith speaks in St. Paul, Minn. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Al Franken following his resignation over accusations of sexual misconduct will be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2018. 

 Franken announced last month that he would resign after multiple women accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. Several women told reporters Franken groped them as they posed for photos with him, and at least two women alleged he forcibly kissed them.

Many of the alleged incidents happened before Franken became a senator in 2009, although at least two were alleged to have happened after he was sworn in.

He was one of at least four federal lawmakers who announced plans to leave office amid sexual misconduct allegations as the “#MeToo” movement encouraged women to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving member of Congress, submitted his resignation last week after he was accused of sexually harassing several women who worked for him. Conyers, D-Michigan, denied the allegations and said he decided to retire because of health concerns. The 88-year-old congressman was hospitalized in Michigan earlier this month.

Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, announced last month that he would not seek re-election after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into allegations that he made explicit remarks to a former aide and retaliated against her for complaining, according to the Austin American-Statesman. A week earlier, reports surfaced that he settled he settled a lawsuit the aide brought against him with $84,000 of taxpayer money. Farenthold has since said he will pay back the Treasury with his own money.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Arizona, said last month that he plans to resign from his seat by the end of January after the House Ethics Committee announced it was investigating allegations of sexual harassment levied against him by his former employees.</s>Democrats Doug Jones and Tina Smith have officially been sworn in as U.S. senators on Wednesday. Smith is replacing former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, and Jones fills the seat held by Republican Jeff Sessions, now the attorney general. Jones' election reduces the Republican majority to 51-49.

Jones, who won a narrow race against embattled Republican Judge Roy Moore in Alabama's special election, was certified the winner of the race last week after Moore refused to concede to Jones.

Moore had filed a last-minute lawsuit contesting the results of the election by claiming election fraud in an effort to stop the state from making his defeat official. A judge later rejected Moore's attempts, to which Moore released a final statement saying he had "no regrets."

The senator-elect released a statement shortly after the certification saying he was "looking forward to going to work for the people of Alabama in the new year."

Jones now replaces Alabama Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to hold the seat after Sessions became attorney general.

Ahead of the swearing-in, Jones told reporters on Capitol Hill that he's hoping to be a "good senator" something he considers to be a "bipartisan issue."

Franken announced his resignation in December amid mounting pressure to step down in light of growing allegations of sexual misconduct against women before and after he joined the Senate. Smith was selected by Governor Mark Dayton to fill the vacant spot.

The former Minnesota lieutenant governor has said she will also run in the November 2018 special election to finish Franken's term, which was due to expire in 2020. Vice President Mike Pence, who is the president of the Senate, swore in Jones and Smith. Former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Minnesotan, escorted Smith, and former Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime friend of Jones, escorted him.

Jones told reporters on Wednesday that he "loves" that Biden was joining him for the ceremony.

"The fact that he's been here for a long time. He's been here many years himself so it's going to be a special day," said Jones.

Jones later said that it "feels great" to be a Senator and that he was "very honored, humbled to be here."

Smith echoed Jones' sentiments, issuing her very first tweet as a Senator on Wednesday saying she was "ready to get to work" being a "fierce advocate for Minnesotans."

The Senate floor erupted into applause after Pence finished administering the oath of office during the first official swearing-in ceremony.

During a photo op following the formal ceremony in front of reporters, the senators were joined by their families as Pence administered the oath of office for a second time.

Biden joked with Jones' two sons during the photo op and told reporters that it was "good to be back." He thanked the vice president for allowing him to participate in Wednesday's events.

Smith was joined by her extended family as well as fellow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar for the second informal ceremony. Pence said he looked forward to working with Smith in the senate.</s>Vice President Mike Pence has sworn into office the two newest members of the Senate, Democrats Doug Jones of Alabama and Tina Smith of Minnesota.

More: Alabama Democrats look to build on Doug Jones win

Jones is the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter-century. His victory over Roy Moore in the deeply conservative state has narrowed the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49.

Jones is filling a vacancy that arose from the resignation of Jeff Sessions to serve as the nation's attorney general.

Smith is the former lieutenant governor of Minnesota, appointed by the state's governor to replace Democratic Sen. Al Franken, who resigned after being accused of sexual misconduct.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) – Two former vice presidents stood beside the Senate’s newest senators on the Senate floor as the two Democrats took their oaths of office.

Former Vice President Joseph Biden was next to Alabama Democrat Doug Jones as he was sworn in Wednesday. Former Vice President Walter Mondale – himself a former Minnesota senator – stood next to Tina Smith.

Swearing the newcomers into office was the current vice president, Mike Pence.

Jones attracted national attention and gave his party a boost of election-year momentum when he defeated conservative GOP candidate Roy Moore in last month’s special election in Alabama.

Smith was her state’s lieutenant governor when Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton appointed her to replace Sen. Al Franken. He resigned after a series of sexual harassment accusations.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Two Democrats are set to be sworn into the U.S. Senate, narrowing the Republican majority and complicating efforts by GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to advance the White House’s legislative agenda before the November midterm elections.

Doug Jones of Alabama is one of two new members who will take the oath of office on the Senate floor at noon Wednesday.

The other is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Democrat Al Franken. Franken resigned effective Tuesday after being accused of sexual misconduct.

They will narrow the Republican majority to 51-49.

Jones will represent one of the most conservative states and is stressing his desire to work with lawmakers from both parties. He is the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century.

You can watch the ceremony LIVE at WKRG.com and the WKRG Facebook Page at 11:00 AM.</s>The U.S. Senate has two new members today - Doug Jones, whose race in Alabama against Judge Roy Moore caught the nation's attention, and Tina Smith of Minnesota. She replaces fellow Democrat Al Franken after his resignation amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Senator Smith inherits a seat that has changed parties four times since 1990 and faces a November special election that's likely to be competitive. Here's Brian Bakst of Minnesota Public Radio.

BRIAN BAKST, BYLINE: Where Al Franken was an outsized political figure, Tina Smith was practically tugged into public life. Until yesterday, Smith had been Minnesota's lieutenant governor, the only elective office she's held. For most of her career, she focused on the images and agendas of others as a trusted adviser to a big city mayor, a governor and a former vice president.

TINA SMITH: You know, sometimes I think people in politics are always looking for the next job and the next opportunity. And frankly, that's just not the way I'm wired.

BAKST: Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says that doesn't mean people should take his former chief of staff lightly.

R T RYBAK: She is not a person to go crawl over every other political body to get to the place. She's a person who wants to get stuff done, and she's in the right position to do that.

BAKST: Rybak once dubbed Smith the velvet hammer. It reflected what Rybak saw as her charm and mettle in helping close deals at City Hall and providing a steady hand in times of crisis, like when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed during rush hour. As senator, Smith says her focus will be on bread-and-butter economic issues such as health care and paid family leave.

SMITH: I don't think Minnesotans are sending us here to Washington D.C. just to fight with each other. They're sending us here to actually deliver results for people.

BAKST: Smith is 59, a New Mexico native, a wife of 33 years and a mother of two. She has an MBA from Dartmouth and came to Minnesota for a job at General Mills. She left to start her own business before migrating toward jobs in politics. That includes running the campaign for Walter Mondale in a 2002 Senate race the former vice president lost. It was for the seat Smith will now hold. Mondale says he's looking forward to having Smith represent Minnesota.

WALTER MONDALE: She's very honest. You can - that's a touchstone of her career. She's not going to cut any corners. She's - we'll hear it straight from her.

BAKST: Smith must now get acclimated to the Senate while building a statewide campaign. She passed last year on a chance to succeed retiring Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, who appointed her to the Senate. The Democratic field looks clear, but that's only part of the battle in a state that neither party has a lock on. It's a historically blue state where Republicans have made substantial inroads lately. Suburban State Senator Karin Housley is the only Republican to jump in so far, but former Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann are considering campaigns.

Jennifer DeJournett runs a political group called VOICES of Conservative Women. She says this seat is ripe for Republicans if they pick the right candidate. She expects Republicans to hammer Smith on abortion, linking it to her past stint as a Planned Parenthood executive.

JENNIFER DEJOURNETT: She's kind of got the worst of both worlds, quite frankly. Totally unproven, no hard base, but she's got an ideological record that is completely - you know, completely there.

BAKST: Smith's allies hold her out as a champion for women's health and say they're ready for the 2018 fight. For NPR News, I'm Brian Bakst in St. Paul. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama was sworn into office Wednesday, shrinking the Senate's Republican majority 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.

Two former vice presidents, both Democrats, were there to support the Senate's newest members as the GOP majority narrowed to 51-49. In future party-line votes, Republicans cannot afford more than one defection.

Jones was escorted to the Senate chamber by former Vice President Joseph Biden, who had headlined Jones' campaign kickoff rally. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore.

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 United States 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.

During the swearing-in, Jones wore a pair of Heflin's cufflinks. Jones plans to place one of Heflin's cigar boxes in his office.

"To be able to have done the things I've done and end up back here is just a remarkable thing," Jones said in an interview before taking the oath of office. "I am looking forward to getting my feet wet and getting to know my colleagues and jumping into the action."

Jones said he is hopeful that he comes to the Senate with a "little bit of a voice" because of the attention on the Alabama race.

Biden attended an afternoon reception for Jones. "You've not only done Alabama a favor, you've done the country a favor," Biden said.

Then, referring to upcoming congressional elections, Biden said: "This is the first act. We've got to double down and repeat this."

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 swearing-in 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 eager to vote to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program, for which funding lapsed last year.

"It is not anything that I planned for. I am not a person who has spent a lot of time planning about what office I want to run for," said Smith, who is running to maintain the Senate seat in a November special election.

Associated Press writers Marcy Gordon, Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram and Kyle Potter contributed to this report. Chandler reported from Montgomery, Ala.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>It was a heady day for Tina Smith on Wednesday.

Flanked by former Vice President Walter Mondale and Minnesota’s senior U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Smith stood before Vice President Mike Pence in the chamber of the U.S. Senate, and, with her left hand laid across a family Bible from the mid-1800s, took the oath of office as Minnesota’s newest U.S. senator.

With her extended family looking on from the gallery, Smith, a Democrat, was sworn in alongside Doug Jones, a fellow Democrat from Alabama who squeaked to victory in a special election last month.

The pair of Democrats taking their seats winnows the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49 amid a charged political climate as midterm elections approach in November. Democrats hope to make gains against Republicans, who control the House, Senate and White House, by capitalizing on high disapproval ratings of President Donald Trump.

“I can’t wait to get to work,” Smith said following a ceremonial re-enactment of the oath shortly after.

With her swearing-in Wednesday, Smith became the 22nd woman in the Senate, a record for the body, and Minnesota joins a handful of states in history to have two sitting female senators.

Smith, 59, a longtime behind-the-scenes operative for Democrats in Minnesota who has never held — or sought — elected office before, found herself unexpectedly in the Senate via an appointment from Gov. Mark Dayton. She is filling the seat of Al Franken, who resigned amid allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior from multiple women.

Smith will stand for election in November in what is expected to be a Minnesota political season that will draw national attention. Klobuchar also will be on the ballot that will feature an open governor’s seat, as Dayton isn’t running for re-election.

“I’m really invigorated about this,” Smith said in a telephone interview with the Pioneer Press, in which she joked about the hurried nature of finding a place to live — she just secured an apartment — and talked generally about issues she hopes will resonate with a statewide electorate largely split between conservative and liberal philosophies.

“There’s a particular sense of honor in starting a new job as United States senator, and that’s incredible. But also there’s a lot of starting a new job that is the same. You have to fill out your emergency contact form, and there’s orientation that is important and you have to go through.”

When it comes to her style of politics, none should expect to see a firebrand of the left in Smith, a possible distinction to Franken, who’s biting attacks on Trump endeared him to many Democrats in Minnesota and elsewhere.

Smith said she’ll focus on “building relationships” with other senators.

“It’s important to remember that at least for the next year, both the Senate and the House and the executive branch are controlled by a party other than mine, and I am realistic about what we can accomplish,” she said. “At the same time, I’m really optimistic that if we work hard, we can find some common ground. But there are big differences dividing us, and I’m not naive about that.”

As for Trump, Smith criticized his positions on the new tax laws and his approach to health care and lumped in Republicans generally in that criticism. She declined to criticize him personally.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that I have a profoundly different view of the word than the president … but you have to not lose hope that you can find common issues,” she said. “I’m not going to get into a detailed attack on the president.”

It’s unclear what the slate of opponents for Smith will look like. So far, the field of potential challengers for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination has remained clear.

Smith’s liberal bona fides aren’t in question. From 2003 to 2006, she served as vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. She was chief of staff for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak from 2006 to 2010. She had served as Dayton’s chief of staff in his first term and then lieutenant governor for the past three years. A New Mexico native, Smith came to Minnesota in the 1980s for a marketing job at General Mills.

Republicans are painting Smith as a DFL insider from the liberal bastion of Minneapolis who hasn’t earned her seat.

Jennifer Carnahan, chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, said in a statement, “Minnesotans will be watching closely to see if Smith can attempt to govern in a bi-partisan fashion, or if she will continue on as the consummate Democrat Party insider.”

So far, one Republican, state Sen. Karin Housley of St. Mary’s Point, has announced her candidacy, and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty is reportedly considering entering the race. Former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said this week that she’s considering it.

On Wednesday, Housley said of Smith, in part: “I am hopeful that she will put the values of Minnesotans first while serving out the remainder of Al Franken’s Senate term. However, Smith’s career as a lifelong Democrat political operative, and role as a leader in pushing for abortions at any cost as a Planned Parenthood Executive, gives reason to be concerned as to whether she will stand up for everyday Minnesota values.”

Smith said repeatedly that she wants to “hit the ground running,” although it’s unclear what that will look like.

She said she hasn’t been told yet what committees she will serve on, but she’s hoping for a seat on the Agriculture Committee to work on the next farm bill. But she declined to reveal her entire list of requests, noting the Senate’s internal deliberative mechanisms are “complicated, as I’m learning.” (Smith joins the 100-member body ranking 99th in seniority.)
• There’s a story behind that old Bible Tina Smith took the Senate oath on
• Tina Smith sworn in as U.S. senator after Al Franken resignation
• Tina Smith will replace Al Franken in Senate Wednesday. Here’s how it will go down.
• Al Franken plans thank-you stop as poll suggests many don’t want him to leave

With such a short tenure in front of her, what will success look like so that, in her view, she will have earned the votes to serve out the remainder of Franken’s term?

“If, in a year from now, Minnesotans are saying about me, ‘She fought really hard for us. She advocated with a lot of common sense and passion for what is going to be best for us, whether it’s tax fairness or health care costs, or dealing with the opioid crisis or broadband in rural Minnesota.’ If they say, ‘She fought really hard for those things, she stayed focused on trying to find a path even when everything is so divisive in Washington,’ I will feel that I have done the best that I can,” Smith said.

This report includes information from the Associated Press.</s>From Minnesota, Tina Smith Replaces Al Franken In U.S. Senate

One of the newest members of the U.S. Senate is Tina Smith, a low-profile Democrat from Minnesota. The state's lieutenant governor is stepping into the seat previously occupied by Al Franken, who resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Two new Democratic senators—Doug Jones of Alabama and Tina Smith of Minnesota—are sworn in, bringing the Republican majority down to 51–49.