Tammy Baldwin gives victory speech to supporters in Madison. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
Democrat Tammy Baldwin was sworn in just after 11 this morning as Wisconsin’s newest United States Senator.
The 12 newly-elected senators were summoned to the podium four at a time, in alphabetical order, and Baldwin’s name was the first to be called. She took her oath from Vice President Joe Biden as she officially replaced fellow Democrat Herb Kohl, who retired after 24 years in the Senate.
Baldwin becomes the first woman from Wisconsin to be elected to the US Senate and is the first openly gay member of the chamber. She defeated former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson in a heated election.
House members took their oaths early this afternoon, including Madison Democrat Mark Pocan, who is the only newly-elected member in Wisconsin’s eight-person delegation. Pocan replaces Baldwin, who spent 14 years in the House.