Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to assume Al Franken's Senate seat
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D) has been tapped to replace resigning Sen. Al Franken (D), who announced last week that he would leave the Senate amid mounting allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) announced the decision Wednesday.
Smith will serve out the remainder of Franken's term after he finalizes his resignation from Congress, and in accepting Dayton's appointment Wednesday she announced she would also run in next year's election to retain the seat. "Though I never anticipated this moment, I am resolved to do everything I can to move Minnesota forward," Smith said.
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.