Speed Reads

a day of firsts

Cindy Hyde-Smith just became Mississippi's first female senator

Sen. Tammy Duckworth's (D-Ill.) new baby girl wasn't the only woman making history in the Senate on Monday.

Cindy Hyde-Smith became the first female senator from Mississippi on Monday, after she was sworn into office by Vice President Mike Pence. Her entry to Congress marks another milestone as well: There are now 23 women serving in the Senate, an all-time high.

Hyde-Smith, a Republican, was appointed to the Senate after former Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) announced his resignation last month. Prior to joining Capitol Hill, Hyde-Smith was Mississippi's agriculture and commerce commissioner, and she served in the state senate for more than a decade. She also worked on President Trump's Agriculture Advisory Committee during his campaign.

Cochran left his long-held Senate seat last week due to health issues. Hyde-Smith will serve in his place until a special election in November, which will determine who will take over for the remainder of Cochran's term, which ends in 2020. Watch Hyde-Smith's swearing-in below, via CSPAN. Summer Meza