Arizona’s Mark Kelly reportedly will be sworn into Senate on Wednesday

PHOENIX – Mark Kelly reportedly will be sworn into the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, giving Democrats a 48th seat in the chamber, including two from Arizona for the first time nearly 70 years.

Citing a senior Democratic aide on Monday, CNN said the swearing in will take place at 10 a.m. Arizona time. The Hill also reported that Kelly will be sworn in Wednesday.

Kelly doesn’t have to wait until January to start his new job because voters chose him to fill out the term of the late Sen. John McCain in a special election.

The results of Arizona’s Nov. 3 election were certified Monday, which had to occur before Kelly could take the oath of office.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he would quickly act so that Kelly could assume his new role.

“With Sen.-elect Mark Kelly winning the general election, I will be signing official documentation today that will be hand-delivered to the secretary of the United States Senate so that Arizona’s newest senator can be sworn into office as swiftly as possible,” Ducey said during the state election canvass.

Kelly defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally by a margin of 51.2%-48.8%, a difference of more than 78,000 votes.

McCain died of brain cancer in August 2018, two years after being elected to his sixth term. Ducey first appointed Jon Kyl to the position, but the former senator agreed to serve again only until the end of that year.

Ducey then appointed McSally, who took office in January 2019. McSally was fresh off a loss to Kyrsten Sinema in the November 2018 election for the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Flake, who didn’t seek reelection.

McCain’s term runs through 2022, when Kelly will face reelection.

When Kelly officially joins Sinema in the chamber, both of Arizona’s senators will be Democrats for the first time since 1953.

Kelly’s work has already begun. He announced his transition team a week after the election and has been briefed about the coronavirus pandemic by state health leaders.

Last week, he met with Ducey and and discussed distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, dealing with the economic fallout from the pandemic, infrastructure and trade with Mexico.

Despite Kelly’s arrival, Republicans will hold the Senate majority at least until the beginning of the year. Two Georgia seats won’t be decided until a Jan. 5 runoff has been completed.

Democrats would have to win both Georgia seats to forge a 50-50 tie, but that would give them control because Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would cast the deciding vote if needed.

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