Laphonza Butler became California‘s newest U.S. Senator on Tuesday, succeeding the late Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Vice President Kamala Harris, herself a former senator from California, administered the oath of office on the Senate floor. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) stood behind Butler as she was sworn into the Senate.
“Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you am about to enter? So help you God,” Harris said.
Butler, who was raising her right hand, said, “I will.”
People in the chamber applauded and cheere …