The U.S. Senate convened Friday under GOP control after Vice President Kamala Harris swore in senators who won their races in November.
Sen. John Thune, the South Dakota Republican making his debut as majority leader, opened the new session by acknowledging the victims of the New Year’s attack in New Orleans and the death of President Jimmy Carter. He also welcomed new members and underscored the solemnity of their oath.
“It is the solemn responsibility of those of us here in Congress to preserve our Constitution, to guard it against enemies both foreign and domestic,” he said. He replaced Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York as majority leader and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as Republican leader.
Mr. Thune also warned against efforts to make the Senate a “copy of the House of Representatives.”
“One of my priorities as leader will be to ensure that the Senate stays the Senate. That means preserving the legislative filibuster,” he said, referring to the provision that requires 60 votes to end debate and proceed on legislative votes. “It also means restoring the Senate as a place of discussion and deliberation.”
The chamber worked through opening-day formalities, including the swearing of Sen. Charles Grassley, Iowa Republican, as president pro tempore, and passing a resolution honoring Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, as president pro tempore emerita.
Republicans flipped the chamber in the November election, securing a 53-to-47 majority. Ms. Harris, who lost the presidential election, delivered the oath of office to 34 senators who will start six-year terms.
The senators gathered at the front of the chamber in groups of four, and each senator was accompanied by an escort — typically, but not always, the lawmaker’s fellow home-state senator.
The vice president and senators will reenact the swearings-in the Old Senate Chamber. The ceremonies allow photographs with family members and some banter with Ms. Harris, who lost the presidential race to President-elect Donald Trump.
President Biden, during his time as vice president from 2009 to 2017, earned notice for his unique brand of schmoozing with family members at these events.
The incoming Republican senator from West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice, was not present on Friday. He delayed his oath by over a week to ensure continuity in the governor’s chair until Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey takes over on Jan. 13.
Two incoming senators, Adam Schiff of California and Andy Kim of New Jersey, were sworn in Dec. 9 to complete the terms of governor-appointed placeholders, so they had a kind of re-swearing on Friday for their actual terms.
Nine other senators are serving in the chamber for the first time. They are Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan; and Republicans Jim Banks of Indiana, John Curtis of Utah, David McCormick of Pennsylvania, Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Tim Sheehy of Montana.
During the ceremonial swearings, Mr. Kim’s young children delivered personal business cards to Ms. Harris so they could stay in touch, charming the vice president.
“This is so good!” Ms. Harris said.
Ms. Harris joked around with Sen. Bernard Sanders — the Vermont independent and outspoken progressive — when it was time to take their places for the oath.
“Stand right there. Although that is not your nature to just stand where you’re told to stand, but give it a try,” Ms. Harris said, drawing a short laugh from the senator.
She also gave a pep talk to Mr. Gallego’s son, who said he was sorry Ms. Harris didn’t win in November.
The vice president said there is “still so much work to do.”
“Are we defeated? Nope, we’re not defeated, right?” Ms. Harris said. “That’s right.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.