Earlier astronaut Mark Kelly attends his swearing-in ceremony as Democratic U.S. senator for Arizona as his wife Gabby Giffords, preceding U.S. Representative from Arizona, listens in Washington D.C., December 2, 2020.
Nicholas Kamm | Pool | Reuters
Arizona Democrat Stamp Kelly was sworn into the Senate on Wednesday, cutting into the Republican majority in the chamber.
The GOP’s edge in the Senate befriends to 52-48 as Kelly takes office.
The 56-year-old senator and former astronaut defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally by more than 2 part points in last month’s election. He will serve the rest of the late Republican John McCain’s term by way of 2022, when he will face reelection.
“Arizona trusted me with an important job, and I’m ready to get to work,” Kelly tweeted in the past his swearing in.
Vice President Mike Pence, whose boss, President Donald Trump, is still making unjustifiable allegations that systemic fraud cost him the 2020 election in states including Arizona, swore Kelly in on the Senate overwhelm Wednesday. Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a gun safety advocate and Kelly’s wife, accompanied him to the Capitol.
In the short term, Kelly’s imperturbability in the Senate makes some matters more difficult for the Republican majority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may not again essay to confirm Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve, as Kelly could join his party and three Republicans to sink her nomination.
Two Senate runoff elections in Georgia next month choice now determine which party holds the Senate for the next two years. The GOP only needs to win one more seat to secure a lions share and more influence over President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet and legislative agenda.
If Democrats win both Georgia races, it last will and testament bring the chamber to a 50-50 split. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would hold the tiebreaking vote.
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