Doug Jones Sworn In, Takes Jeff Sessions’ Seat, As GOP Majority Narrows

Doug Jones, second from left, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, is administered the oath of office by Vice President Mike Pence as his wife Louise holds the Bible, joined at far left by their son Christopher Jones, and son Carson Jones, center, during a ceremonial swearing-in at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. Jones, 63, will represent one of the most conservative states in the nation and is stressing his desire to work with both parties. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election to take the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Vice President Mike Pence, right, administers the Senate oath of office during a mock swearing in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber to Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., second from left, with his wife Louise Jones, second fr... Vice President Mike Pence, right, administers the Senate oath of office during a mock swearing in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber to Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., second from left, with his wife Louise Jones, second from right, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. They are joined at far left by their son Christopher Jones, and son Carson Jones, center. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election to take the seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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On Wednesday morning, Congress’ first day in session in 2018, two new Democrats were sworn in to the Senate, bringing Republicans’ majority to a razor-thin 51 to 49.

Alabama’s Doug Jones, after winning an upset special election in December over Republican nominee Roy Moore, becomes the first Democrat in decades to represent his state in the upper chamber, taking the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and temporarily held by appointee Luther Strange.

Minnesota’s former Democratic Lt. Gov. Tina Smith was also sworn in Wednesday, taking the seat vacated by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), who resigned in December following multiple accusations of groping and other forms of sexual misconduct.

Accompanied by his family and a grinning former Vice President Joe Biden, who campaigned on his behalf in Alabama, Jones took the oath of office from Vice President Mike Pence. Having Biden accompany him to the swearing-in was a breach of tradition, as new senators are usually walked to the ceremony by their fellow state senators. Smith, keeping the tradition, was accompanied by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

On issues ranging from voting rights to immigration to health care, Jones could not be more different than Sessions—a hardliner considered to be on the far right fringe before his views were adopted and elevated by the Trump administration.

Though as a first-time officeholder Jones has no voting record, he staked out progressive positions on the campaign trail and has worked to demonstrate his commitment to them since the election. This week, he became the only Senate Democrat with an African-American chief of staff. He says his top priority is passing a long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which Congress allowed to lapse in September and will lapse again later this year without a new bill.

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