A Democrat Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith has been appointed to fill the U.S Senate seat. This seat was left by U.S Senator Al Franken last week as he announced his resignation due to sexual misconduct allegations. The Governor of the State, Mark Dayton is also a Democrat and said in a statement that Lt. Gov. Tina Smith has been selected to serve a one-year term in the U.S Senate and her time period will be ended in accordance with state law in the month of January 2019. A special election will take place on 6th November 2018 with the winner serving out the remaining term of Franken, which runs through January 2021. On Wednesday morning, Smith said in a news conference that she would run for the seat in the special election in November 2018.
Dayton admired Smith in his announcement as “a person of the highest integrity and ability”. He added that there is no one to trust to hand over the responsibilities of this important office. She will be efficient U.S Senator and she will represent the best interests of our citizens and our state”. Smith said in her statement that she will work hard to resolve major issues of the state and to move Minnesota forward. Franken also issued a statement and admired Smith as “a dedicated public servant as she worked tirelessly on behalf of Minnesotans and she will be an excellent United States senator. 59-years old Smith was elected lieutenant governor in 2014. She served as Dayton’s chief of staff and was the chief of staff for the mayor of Minneapolis and the vice president of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.