Ossoff, Warnock Sworn In; Senate Officially Democrat-Controlled

ATLANTA, GA — Newly-elected Georgia senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were sworn in just hours after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their own oaths of office on Wednesday — a day full of historical firsts.

The two Democratic senators took their oaths just before 5 p.m. Jan. 20, about 24 hours after Georgia certified its election results and more than 90 days after the November general election. With Ossoff and Warnock sworn in, the U.S. Senate majority flipped from Republicans to Democrats.

Harris — the first female, first Black female and first person of Asian-American descent to be elected as vice president — presided over the swearing-in ceremonies.

Ossoff is Georgia's first Jewish senator, the youngest U.S. senator in the state's history and the youngest Democratic senator since Biden. The 33-year-old was escorted into his swearing-in ceremony by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, and took his oath on a Hebrew scripture that belonged to historic Atlanta Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, Ossoff's team said Tuesday.

Rothschild served as rabbi to the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation, also known as The Temple, which is Atlanta's oldest and most prominent Jewish synagogue. Rothschild was also an ally and friend to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Now representing Georgia pic.twitter.com/M1r6Gq2c4P
— Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) January 20, 2021

The Rev. Raphael Warnock was sworn in with Ossoff, as well as Harris' Senate replacement, Sen. Alex Padilla of California. Warnock, who still leads Ebenezer Baptist Church — which was King's home church — is Georgia's first Black U.S. senator, and only the 11th Black U.S. senator in the nation's history.

As I'm sworn in today, know that I will be a senator for all Georgians. Whether or not you voted for me, I'll carry your hopes and concerns to Washington. pic.twitter.com/t0yxodr9ll
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) January 20, 2021

Biden, Ossoff and Warnock all made history in Georgia, with Biden being the first Democrat to win a presidential election in the state since former President Bill Clinton in 1992.