Cindy Hyde-Smith sworn in U.S. Senate

Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith was sworn in today on Capitol Hill after winning her seat in the runoff election last month.

Hyde-Smith was sworn in on the Senate floor. Afterwards, she took part in a ceremonial swearing in with Senator Orrin Hatch.

Senator Hyde-Smith defeated Democrat Mike Espy in a special election that was tainted with race-related controversies. She becomes the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi.

Senator Hyde-Smith will serve out the remaining two years of former GOP Senator Thad Cochran’s term, whom she was appointed to replace earlier this year after he resigned.