ATLANTA — Kelly Loeffler has officially become Georgia's newest U.S. senator Monday, after an official swearing-in ceremony in Washington.
Loeffler, an Atlanta businesswoman, was chosen by Gov. Brian Kemp last month to replace Johnny Isakson, who retired at the end of 2019 over ongoing health issues.
She was officially sworn in at on the Senate floor. After that, she participated in the traditional "re-enactment" in the Old Senate Chamber.
Watch the swearing-in ceremony here.
According to staff, Loeffler was escorted down the Senate aisle by Sen. David Perdue, now Georgia's senior senator, a longstanding tradition. She conducted the oath with Vice President Mike Pence, and took the oath over a family Bible.
Her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, her parents, her brother, her sister-in-law and their two adult children watched the ceremony from the Senate gallery.
The entire affair lasted just minutes. She will cast her first vote in the Senate at 5:30 p.m.
"Certainly I feel the pressure for what’s at stake for our future and our country," Loeffler said last week. "But mostly I’m just excited and honored to be here and I’m going to get to work and work really hard."
On one of the largest matters expected to come before the Senate soon, Loeffler has indicated she strongly opposes impeaching President Donald Trump.
As she was unveiled as Kemp's appointment last month, she sought to frame herself as a strident conservative.
"Here’s what folks are going to find out about me: I’m a lifelong conservative, pro-second amendment, pro-Trump, pro-military and pro-wall," Loeffler said.
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