Tammy Baldwin sworn in as U.S. Senator
By: Jenn Sullivan
Updated: January 3, 2013
((WFRV)) - Democrat Tammy Baldwin was one of thirteen freshman Senators sworn in Thursday afternoon, among them, Democratic leader Tammy Baldwin.
Surrounded by several family members and friends Baldwin was sworn into the Senate Thursday.
The former 2nd District Congresswoman replaces long term Democratic Senator Herb Kohl, who retired in May.
At 1:00 p.m. , Baldwin was individually sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden.
Baldwin told Local 5 News, "It was an enormous honor. Very humbling and very, very exciting."
In November, she ran against former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson.
Democratic leaders called her win historic.
After serving in the House of Representatives for more than a decade, Baldwin said this is an exciting new challenge.
As a new member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee she said tackling Healthcare is one of her top priorities.
"It's very important to me and it always has been that every Wisconsinite has access to quality, affordable, comprehensive health insurance and we want to see that through," Baldwin said.
Baldwin is among twelve new Senators to be part of the 113th Congress.
The former Congresswoman is Wisconsin's first female to be elected to the Senate.
She's also the nation's first openly gay Senator.
That achievement she said will hopefully inspire young women.
"As young women across this country, across the state of Wisconsin and young LGBT individuals who have their whole future ahead of them, who think there is still a glass ceiling, I hope they look at this and say the sky's the limit," Baldwin said.
Democrats maintain the majority in the Senate 55 to 45.
Several of the newly elected legislators said they hope to achieve more compromise among Republican leaders.
