Senate

Mark Kelly to be sworn in as senator on Wednesday

by Jordain Carney - 11/30/20 9:36 AM ET

Sen.-elect Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) will be sworn in on Wednesday, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Kelly defeated GOP Sen. Martha McSally (Ariz.) earlier this month and the results of the race are expected to be certified on Monday, clearing the way for him to join the Senate.

The swearing-in of Kelly, who is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), will narrow the Senate GOP majority from 53-47 to 52 Republican seats to the Democrats’ 48.

In addition to McSally, Democrats defeated GOP Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.), while Republicans unseated Democratic Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.). Which party will control the chamber in January remains in limbo and will be decided by the outcome of the two January runoff elections in Georgia.

But Kelly’s ascension to the Senate does complicate a GOP effort to confirm Judy Shelton, President Trump’s controversial Federal Reserve Board nominee.

An attempt to confirm Shelton before the Thanksgiving recess ran into a roadblock because of GOP opposition and coronavirus-related absences.

Because three Republican senators — Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Mitt Romney (Utah) — oppose Shelton, once Kelly is sworn in she will not have the votes to be confirmed unless McConnell can get one of the senators to change their votes or take advantage of a Democratic absence.